05 May 2022

Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) will consider empowering the adjudication panel to demand certain information from national sports associations (NSAs).

BNSC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho, was answering a question from the media during the public athlete/team of the year voting launch recently.

Serufho was asked if the commission was satisfied with the nominations given that Anthony Pesela, who won two medals of 400 metres and 4x400 metres relay team and claimed the Meeting Record (MR) at the World athletics under 20 championships, did not make the cut.

Pesela was also part of the men’s 4x 400 men’s relay, which won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

He said the panel would also have power to add some nominees, in consultation with the relevant NSAs.

On other issues, Serufho said the public determined award should be there to stay.

“We have seen the need to get the public to be involved in at least one award that’s one of the surest ways of ensuring that even those that cannot make it to the ceremony get involved somehow,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Botswana Sports Awards will be held on June 7 at BaIsago.

Letsile Tebogo of athletics; Denzel Seetso of tennis and Thuso Mosutlha of chess will battle it out for the outstanding male athlete of the year.

The female athlete of the year category has pitted Naledi Marape of chess, against Refilwe Ekua Youri from tennis and Keamogetse Kenosi of Boxing.

The outstanding male athlete with disability contenders are Edwin Masuge, Theo Nkele and Phemo Karenna from PASSOBO.

The male athlete with disability category contenders are Gloria Majaga, Bokang Mopalo and Amantle Makhura from PASSOBO.

The team of the year has pitted the men’s 4x400m relay team, against Jwaneng Galaxy football club and the national senior women football team - The Mares.

Referee of the year will be contested for by Gaone Poane of tennis, Emmanuel Kgaboetsile of badminton and Dorothy Okatch of basketball.

Justice Dipeba of athletics, Phenyo Matong of tennis and Lechedzani Luza of boxing will compete in the outstanding coach of the year category.

Resilient national sport association of the year has BOTESSA, chess, and table tennis, while sponsor of the year has FNBB, Debswana and Phoenix Assurance Botswana. ENDS