Who deserves the BNOC top seat?
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday October 30, 2021 06:00
As scores of BNOC affiliates cast their votes next weekend, eyes will be on the presidential contest where three men have raised their hands. Incumbent Botsang Tshenyego, Ookeditse Malesu and Tirelo Mukokomani are in the ring to contest for BNOC’s top post. One of them will emerge to lead the local Olympics body for the next four years. It is a crucial position that requires men and women of clout and the requisite experience, in particular, for a business organisation. There has been an emphasis on candidates with sport backgrounds. But, should this be an issue? It is an added advantage, but at the end of the day might not matter in the fast-changing environment where sport is now treated as a business.
An impeccable individual with the right qualifications is needed for the job in an international organisation that is key to the performing of codes at global contests.
BNOC needs an articulate person, and not a politician. It is crying out for a ‘sophisticated’ individual who understands the dynamics of the present day sport industry.
A person who can engage in meaningful dialogue to push the BNOC’s agenda. More often than not, sport codes have voted along ‘political lines’ at the expense of what are considered candidates with the right credentials. Horse trading is usually at play and does not do sport favours. BNOC affiliates might have made up their mind on who to vote for, but casting the ballot is crucial as it is a decision that will affect the running of the organisation for the next four years.
The candidates have presented their roadmaps, but unfortunately, there were no public debates to allow closer and further scrutiny of the candidates’ plans.
“There should be certain parameters in order to get the best people. Here we are talking about people who have served at the highest level, say equivalent to a permanent secretary or at ministerial level. Above all, we need people with business acumen who can handle an international organsaiton like the BNOC. Sport has had people like Shaw Kgathi who rose from within to become ministers and probably that is the kind of profile you are looking for,” an official within the mother body, Botswana National Sport Commission suggested.
“I am not against those contesting but we cannot have anybody vying for the presidency of the BNOC or any sport body for that matter. The person sports needs should not only be inward looking but have an international outlook as BNOC is an international institution. We should not be worried only about internal issues and politics,” said the official speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the press.
The presidential and first vice president posts are critical to steer BNOC in the right direction.Some argue, the other positions can be occupied by upcoming administrators, but the top two should get people with the right experience and profile.
“Justice must be done to sports. BNOC affiliates need to think outside the box. The top two positions are about leadership,” he said.