Debswana's P15m gift to sport
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday February 5, 2022 06:00
Speaking during the cheque handover ceremony yesterday, Debswana managing director, Lynette Armstrong said the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) sponsorship is spread over three years up to 2024.
She said BAA would receive P3 million annually. The Re Ba Bona Ha sponsorship is also for three years and Armstrong said the programme will receive P2 million annually. She emphasised that they expect returns from every investment they make. “We have seen the emergence of top athletes who have gone to represent the country in elite competitions globally.
In recent competitions, our athletes have shown us that with proper support and backing from the country, from relevant organisations, they can perform at the highest level. We have what it takes and they are able to deliver the silverware,” she said. The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC), Tumiso Rakgare noted that the P9 million sponsorship to athletics was huge and it was happening for the first time. Rakgare said while most corporations would want to be associated with the glitz and glamour of elite sport, Debswana continues to choose the least preferred path, that of supporting grassroots development. “Debswana has been at this for the past 12 years and still continuing. The company has stayed true to its brand. Through Debswana’s continued support we have been able to mine sport talent,” he said.
Rakgare said it has been proven over the years that there are no shortcuts to success in sport, and following set lanes that are grounded on proper grassroots structures, is the only way to guarantee future success. He said programmes like Re Ba Bona Ha, Centres of Sport Excellence and Elite Scholarship are essential for the provision of proper paths for athletes. “The recent success of our athletes team at the World Junior Championships 2021 in Kenya is a clear indication of the important role that grassroots development plays in ensuring success,” he said.
Rakgare said the team managed to finish in position seven at the World Junior Championships ahead of countries such as Canada and Denmark. Rakgare said after the junior team’s performance in Kenya, the ministry has decided to turn one of the 10 stadiums the government is constructing into an athletics stadium. BAA president, Paphane Botlhale said with the support from Debswana, they will deliver, adding that the athletics calendar has started on a high note. Botlhale said athletes have started setting national records and qualifying for international competitions such as the Africa Senior Championships.