05 Jul 2023

All sporting codes have been urged to support the county’s bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as it is not a task for the football fraternity alone but a national mission.

The codes’ support is necessary as the bid serves the interest of Batswana as a whole.  

Botswana National Sports Commission (BNOC) senior vice president, Tshepo Sitale said this at the launch of the 42nd Botswana Sport Awards in Gaborone on Tuesday.

“This bid is about selling Botswana to the world, so I would implore all sectors, private, parastatals and government departments to throw their support behind it. This will also help to grow sport in Botswana as it is all our desire,” he said.

On the awards, Sitale said it was good that they were back in full swing after the COVID-19 hiccup, and that they would reward athletes, administrators and coaches for their performance for the past year.

The senior vice president also indicated that as the country continued to produce elite athletes, it was therefore vital that it also groomed elite administrators and coaches rather than to continue relying on volunteers. “We need to empower our administrators and coaches so that we can have a pool of competent people that we can always rely on when needed,” he said.

He also said the awards were an indication of good working relations between the existing sporting bodies and affiliates.

Sitale also said the sporting arena was nowadays so competitive such that being nominated was in itself an achievement.“So I urge all our nominees to be proud of themselves as it shows that they were doing something right. These awards are a testament of your recognition,” he said.

Botswana Television general manager, Joel Thuto said as a partner, it had always been their mandate and interest to help grow sport in the county.

“We will always do all we can to grow our relationship with sport, and we appreciate the content coming in from various sporting codes,” he said.

Thuto said with additional channels, they were hopeful that they would create more room for sport, and that as a national broadcaster, they would try and vary sport content to be relevant to a wide range of audience.

The nominees for the various categories are as follows; Junior Sportswoman of the year will be between Obakeng Kamberuka of athletics, Bafitlhelanyi Matlhare of volleyball and Ekua

Youri of Tennis. Junior Sportsman of the year award will be battled for by Letsile Tebogo of athletics, Denzel Seetso of tennis and Mmoloki Sekwaipe of boxing while Sportswoman of the year pitted Lethabo Modukanele of boxing against Tsaone Sebele of athletics and Centy Kgosikoma of karate.

Sportsman of the year will see Bayapo Ndori of athletics face Gofaone Mosupiemang of karate and George Molwantwa of boxing. Team of the year award will be between Senior Men’s 4x400m relay, Female Team Kata and the duo of Jack Sekao and George Chiswaniso of beach volleyball.

Coach of the year nominees are Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyana of athletics, Thebe Setlalekgosi of boxing and Gasegarona Pabalelo of bowling.

Umpire/Referee of the Year are Dorothy Okatch of basketball, Kavin Kelaotswe of athletics and Abel Mataboge of softball.

Sports Administrator of the year will pit Paphane Botlhale of athletics against Gilbert Khunwane of boxing and Keorapetse Setlhare of BOTESSA.

The Non-Citizens Sports Awards will be fought or by the duo of Sensei William Matike-Ndoumbe of judo, George Kieni of bowling while National Sports Association of the year nominees are Botswana Athletics Association Athletics, BOTESSA and Botswana Boxing Association.

The Sports woman and man of the year with disability have no nominees and the winners will be announced at the event to be held on August 12. ENDS