12 Feb 2024

Botswana Bowling Association (BBA) has made a couple of great strides in 2023 as a result of their tireless working spirit, says the association president, Kitso Robert.

Addressing the BBA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday in Gaborone, Robert said the association was upgraded to Tier 2 and also improved their funding position from Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC).

However, he said the association’s efforts to grow were hampered by financial constraints saying for a couple of years, the association was rescued by self-sponsorship by players partaking in international tournaments.

“We do not have funds to send the national team to such competitions. This situation denies talented players who cannot self-sponsor to participate in international tournaments and therefore not getting exposure to international competitions,” he said.

He said the end result was lack of growth and experience to perform at top level.

Roberts appreciated the financial injection that the association continued to receive from Mighty Infinity Services, as the company always came to their rescue.

In 2022, he said the company sponsored BBA with P100 000, the same amount of funding was repeated in the current year (2024).

He said the company had also extended its financial support to Gaborone Club with a similar amount of P100 000.

Robert also appreciated financial support from BNSC and Botswana National Olympic Committee.

He said in  the current financial year; BBA received a grant of P290 000.

The BBA president also thanked the financial and any other support that was rendered to the clubs by various companies.

“The sponsorship amounts are growing up every year which was a sign of mutual understanding,” he said.

Even though hampered by financial constraints, Robert said BBA managed to cover at least 90 per cent of planned activities in 2023.

“This year lets aim for 100 per cent. It can be done. It is just a matter of planning,” he said.
In addition, Robert said the association was not doing well in grassroot development.

He said their intention was to organise two activities in Jwaneng under the Re Ba Bona Ha programme before end of March. Robert also said getting selected into the national team was a national duty, binding one to maintain high etiquette at all times. He said it was important for the national team to be selected well on time to allow players to have adequate training.

He said the executive committee must guide the association to abide by the set rules and regulations.

Furthermore, Robert indicated that it was important for the association to engage and work closely with the media.

“Our sport was getting noticed by people. In 2023, we were dormant. Let us wake up and sensitise the public of all our events as they happen.”

Meanwhile, the BBA also conducted an election for the position of three executive committee members whose terms in office were coming to an end being those of president, executive secretary and competitions secretary.

Robert retained his presidency after defeating Khumo Kebalatetse with 6-3 votes.

Edwin Nyoka also retained his position as executive secretary after receiving six votes against three votes for Lesedi Mafoko.

The highly contested position was that of competitions secretary.

A single vote separated the incumbent, George Kieni and his competitor, Marea Modutlwa.

Modutlwa, who is not a new comer in BBA committee having previously served as secretary and director of bowls, received six votes against Kieni’s five. ENDS