BONA clarifies coach’s position
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday October 23, 2021 06:00
BONA secretary-general, Mmaneke Maplanka told Mmegi Sport that Mlotshwa is a volunteer and has worked with the national team for a long time. She explained that they have requested her club to allow her to assist the national team. “She is not being paid for her services and she is qualified to be in that position.
She has been at the helm of training many coaches,” she said. BONA marketing and public relations officer, Mokeresete Mokeresete explained that technical teams for all the affiliates are volunteers. He said even the technical benches for all national teams for both men and women are also volunteers. He said BONA does not have the revenue to hire full-time coaches. “When we have funds, we would inform you that we are now able to hire coaches on a permanent basis.
The technical team that is travelling to Namibia is of volunteers, not our employees. They are given an allowance,” he said. Team selection was done last weekend at BONA courts and the camp starts on October 28, 2021 until November 6, 2021. Other technical team members are Neo Ntwaagae (assistant coach), Malebogo Mophalane (team manager) while Oteng Masole is head of delegation. Mlotshwa was appointed as an assistant coach in 2019 and took the national team to Singapore M1 Nations Cup as a stand-in coach and in September this year, she was elevated to be the full-time coach of the women’s senior national team.
The senior team is preparing for the Africa Netball Cup, which would be held in Windhoek, Namibia from November 9-16, 2021. The association is also in the process of hiring two coaches for the School of Excellence in Mogoditshane. It will be the first time that the centre has full-time coaches. The hunt for the coaches started last year, November.
The contract is for 12 months with the possibility of renewal. Among other requirements, the coach must be unemployed and have Africa Level One coaching qualification, experience in teaching and coaching children. Mokeresete said they have conducted interviews for the two positions last month. “The School of Excellence is under the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), so coaches who are hired will have contracts. We have done interviews and we are in the process of hiring.
The names have been submitted to the relevant office. When the decision has been made, it will be announced. We have to see how it is going to affect our volunteers,” he said.