05 Sep 2023

Despite twice ascending the podium in Puma merchandise, star sprinter Letsile Tebogo will not receive any financial incentive from the new technical sponsor of the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA).

Tebogo won silver in 100metres and bronze in 200 metres at the just ended World Athletics Championships.

As it is, only the BAA stands to benefit from the technical sponsor’s additional bonus for Tebogo’s two medals at the competition.

BAA president, Moses Bantsi confirmed in an interview that the incentives that the technical sponsor availed for medals won were meant only for athletes who were personally sponsored by Puma.

Tebogo, on the other hand, is sponsored by Nike which explains why he wore the sportswear manufacturer’s spikes throughout the competition.

Bantsi said if Tebogo was sponsored by Puma, he would be entitled to personal reward from the company.

He explained that currently there was no elite athlete from Botswana who is in the Puma stable. “Most of our elite athletes are sponsored by Nike, but Puma is willing to sign any of them or any upcoming athlete,” said Bantsi.

“If they do not sign up with Puma, the financial rewards will continue to accrue to the federation only, but let us not forget that the federation exists for them.”

He asserted that Puma was a better sponsor with good financial benefits, and therefore encouraged even upcoming athletes to consider signing up with the BAA technical sponsor.

He said he was cognisant of the public concern that the tracksuits worn by the Botswana team did not spot the correct blue. He said the sponsor had acknowledged the mistake.

“What usually happens is that they send the design to the country for approval, and the whole process takes around six months, but in this case things were done at short notice.

They had to do everything possible within a short time to ensure that the athletes were fully kitted. From next year, the mistake won’t recur,” he said. ENDS