Deaf Sport push for independence
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday August 29, 2025 12:44
Speaking to MmegiSport, Deaf Sport Association chairperson, Shirley Keoagile, said the challenge emanates from the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) that covers disability sport under one blanket.
She said the classification was unfair and that Deaf Sport is a registered entity at the Registrar of Societies.
“Deaf Sport is for deaf athletes, we compete at the Deaflympics, which is an international Olympics for deaf people, organised by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD).
“We do not mix anywhere with Paralympic sport,” she explained.
Keoagile added Paralympic sport is for athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments.
She highlighted that operating under PASSOBO makes it difficult for the Deaf Sport Association to be funded by the government.
The chairperson said it has always been a struggle when they have to send a team to international competitions, adding that they ended up pulling out of the 2025 Deaflympics due to financial challenges.
The Deaflympics take place in Tokyo, Japan, in November.
“All we are saying is that as the Sport and Art Act is being renewed, we want to be included. Let us be classified as we are and be granted what is due to us,” she said.
PASSOBO president, Tshepo Mafereka, said they have long pleaded with BNSC for Deaf Sport to be independent. He said PASSOBO and Deaf Sport are two different entities.
“Initially, we were to assist Deaf Sport with legislation needed for them to be a fully fledged association, but now they are still under us. PASSOBO is for athletes from six main disability categories: amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, visually impaired, spinal injuries and Les Autres, not the deaf,” he said.
Mafereka said they have submitted their concerns to the BNSC and the Ministry of Sport and Arts.
He explained that Deaf Sport was included under PASSOBO so that it can be assisted to meet all the requirements, not to be under their roof forever.
When asked why they could not assist the Deaflympic team, Mafereka said they are not funders, which is done by the government and on top of that, they were not aware of the competition.
For his part, BNSC communications manager Anderson Nlisana said that for Deaf Sport to be admitted as an affiliate, it will depend on the submissions they make.
“Despite that, we believe that PASSOBO encompasses all disability sport, but if Deaf Sport wants to be a standalone, they are free to do that. They should explain to BNSC why they want to leave PASSOBO, and I think in that way, they can be registered as an affiliate. They should also be in good standing with the Registrar of Societies. I am aware that the main reason is funding,” Nlisana said.
Meanwhile, PASSOBO is sending a team to the World Para Athletics Championships, which will take place from September 27 to October 5 in New Delhi, India. Asia has hosted the World Championships on four occasions, at Doha 2015 in Qatar, Dubai 2019 in the United Arab Emirates and Kobe 2024 in Japan.
However, the team had its flash point last week after head coach Nason Maotwe was dropped. The decision was reversed after athletes resisted working with the new coach and even wrote a letter to PASSOBO leadership complaining about the changes.
“They reversed their decision, and I am back now for the sake of the athletes,” Maotwe said.
Mafereka confirmed that Maotwe was gone, but they had to seek intervention from the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA).
“The coach was not fired; he told us that he had other commitments. PASSOBO does not have a permanent coach; we depend on volunteers,” Mafereka said.
He said the team of eight athletes is accommodated at the Athletes Village until departure to the competition.