20 Jun 2024

Government has taken a decision that starting this financial year, Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) affiliated clubs will be supported in an effort to develop sport and unearth talent.

This comes against the backdrop that in Botswana, funding has always remained a  significant barrier in ensuring development and growth within athletics clubs despite the sport continuing to go from strength to strength.

Addressing the media in Gaborone recently, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare said athletics was the only code that would benefit from the arrangement because that was where development stemmed.

“This is according to the promise we made during the BAA general assembly that we will help the clubs,” Rakgare said.

Lion’s Den Athletics Club Chairperson, Mukani Bulayani  was optimistic that funding would assist them to go an extra mile in their quest to develop and unleash talent in the country.

“Clubs have been struggling to make ends meet because of limited resources  especially when athletes had to compete outside the country,” Bulayani said.

He also noted that through support, clubs would be motivated to work even harder.

Lobatse Runners Club chairperson, Godfrey Jeremiah was also happy that government had found the need to fund athletics clubs.

Jeremiah said they had been struggling to sustain their clubs, often resulting in the club administration using their funds to assist athletes.

Also, he noted that clubs have always desired to host training camps but lack of resources had always been a deterrent.

Jwaneng Athletics Club representative, Chilume Ntshwarang reiterated how clubs had been struggling with assisting athletes.

“Most of the time clubs would identify talent in remote areas and take athletes to Jwaneng and that means taking care of their upkeep, including food and accommodation. Most of the time we find ourselves financially constrained,” Ntshwarang said.

Werda Athletics Club chairperson, Tshepiso Kashiwa said her club was mandated to expose athletes in the Kgalagadi area to opportunities presented by the BAA and other stakeholders.

Kashiwa said the area comprised mostly disadvantaged families, including athletes and it had always been a challenge for them to travel to competition venues.

“For instance, it costs each athlete a total of P600 to travel from Werda to Francistown. 

This is a challenge as athletes are unemployed and come from less privileged families. 

In some cases, most of the athletes are denied the opportunity to travel and showcase their talent due to strained resources,” she said

Consequently, she said funds would play a crucial role in their club.Furthermore, she said training equipment was integral to the development of an athlete

“With funding, the club will be in a position to acquire training equipment which will enable athletes to polish and nurture their skills to set standards,” she added.

BAA vice president-technical, Kenneth Kikwe thanked government for the support, which he said was timely and would assist the association’s affiliates to unleash more talent. Ends