19 Jan 2014

Sporting codes in general in Botswana are faced with a challenge of securing sponsorships deals with the corporate world.

This is one factor which affects performance as well asorganisation of competitive sporting to uproot the untapped talent.  Modiri Mokobela, events organiser for Botswana Intergrated Sports Association (BISA) North Zone, said it was through hard work and patience that they managed to secure a P300 000 sponsorship deal spread over three years.

The sponsorship to the zone affectionately known as the Great North in sports fraternity was secured from a local company Line Feed. Mokobela noted that although they have managed to dominate all the sporting categories they have been competing in, it was not an easy thing to do because of lack of funds needed to acquire necessities to help in developing new talent in the schools.            

He explained that North zone was made up of 68 secondary schools, being 65 government and three private, with the zone stretching from Tonota up to Chobe, Boteti, North West and North East regions. With this vast area, Mokobela noted that it is always a challenge to prepare with limited resources from the government grant to organise sporting events in preparation for the zone team.

But due to perseverance and commitment of both the coaches and athletes, he said the team has managed to make its mark in the secondary schools sports competitions by attaining top positions, having scooped position two and three in athletics and ball sports respectively for the year 2013. With such a performance,  Mokobela stressed that their new sponsor will not be disappointed to be associated with them in their three years relationship.

Meanwhile the sponsor,  Reuben Seoke, who is the owner of Line Feed said as a company, they had to introspect to find out what they were doing to add to the national Vision 2016 pillars, hence they decided to be seen doing something in line with the vision. He said they decided after seriously scrutinising the proposal to become a sponsor of north zone.

Seoke noted that with the support they will be giving to the zone, they are confident it will help take sports in the country beyond the borders and have the country known in the sporting circles around the world.

Besides the P300 000 sponsorship, the company has also given their new partners 22 trophies and will also for the next three years provide t-shirts for the team coaches while at the same time they will also make follow ups on the progress and challenges of the zone. ENDS