11 Nov 2024

Businesses and individuals based in Maun have been requested to support sport development in the region to facilitate its growth.

The appeal was made by Maun Track and Field Club chairperson, Ralph Ledimo at a gala dinner held over the weekend to recognize and appreciate Olympians who made Botswana proud at the 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris, France.

Ledimo said the region possessed a wealth of talent in sport, hence the need to support local clubs that were cultivating athletes’ capabilities.

For instance, Ledimo said his club nurtured and developed such talent but it was struggling to achieve its mandate because of lack of sponsorship.

“We are struggling to secure sponsors and most of the time we dig from our pockets as club management to assist athletes to participate in elite competitions, which are mostly held in Gaborone and Francistown.

We therefore appeal to the business community and the community at large to extend a helping hand,” he added.

Ledimo thanked Gaborone based Ngami Athletics Group led by Maun native, Mabua Mabua for their invaluable support, saying they on many occasions rallied behind the club during difficult times.

The club’s major challenges, he said, were transport and accommodation for the athletes and appreciated that the group contributed funds to assist in that regard.

“Most of our athletes are unemployed and we do sacrifice to ensure they honour all competitions regardless of the situation,” he emphasised.

Bokone Bophirma Social Club donated P16 800 to the coach, Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane to appreciate his outstanding contribution towards the success of the athletes.

The social club chairperson, Ogaufi Monamisi said Mosimanyane played a pivotal role in the development of many track athletes, including an Olympic champion, hence they found it fit to recognize and motivate him to continue with the good work.

Monamisi also presented P10 000 in support of Maun Track and Field Club appreciating the club for being instrumental in producing some of the country’s top sportspeople.

Former North West District Council chairman, Itumeleng Kelebetseng concurred that the business community should invest in sport and young talent, citing that the celebrated Olympians were a testament of what could be achieved when investing in grassroots development and nurture the young talent at grassroots level.

The district, he said, had many companies which could adopt a holistic and inclusive approach to develop sport in the region.

Sport, he said had proven to be rewarding and that it could help on their quest to improve lives as well as to diversify the economy.

 Kelebetseng also appreciated the recently launched Matlhagolatsela’ Sport Programme in Maun, which returned school sport.

He said the programme was good as it would unearth sporting talent from grassroots level.. ENDS