Weightlifting faces ‘extinction’—BWF president
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday November 1, 2025 06:17
Weightlifting is one of the few codes that have had a representation at the Olympic Games, but progress has been stifled by a lack of funds in recent years.
Mathambo said, in an interview this week, that there is not much that can be done in the absence of solid funding.
He revealed that they had pleaded with the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) over a stagnant grant, with the sports body also facing limited funding from the government.
'We are on the verge of extinction. We pleaded with the Botswana National Sport Commission for funding. It is a difficult situation as even to identify talent at the elementary level, we just dove into the funds,' Mathambo said.
'Generally, sports are not excelling, it is mostly individual sport that are excelling, but for us at weightlifting, you have to qualify by yourself and if you don't have the budget, you will not go far,' he added.
According to Mathambo, the BNSC subvention cannot sustain weightlifting's activities, which threatens the sport's survival.
'The weightlifting federation's main strategic aim is to identify talent, groom, train and develop weightlifting as an Olympic sport and to retain our athletes. Presently, our annual budget cannot sustain 10% of our strategic goals,' he said.
Mathambo noted that the lack of sufficient funds meant that the federation struggles to retain talent.
Local sport has often felt the heavy yoke of underfunding, with the government grant remaining stagnant, whilst other revenue streams like sponsorships have not improved.
Minority codes that include weightlifting have struggled to stay afloat with mass participation disciplines like football and athletics enjoying better financial fortunes.