We don’t owe the World Relay team – BNSC
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday April 24, 2026 12:40
Team Botswana is in camp preparing for the global competition that will take place from May 2 to 3 in Gaborone. Some athletes had expressed concern over treatment and payment of allowances during a training camp held in Letlhakane recently.
However, BNSC marketing and communications manager, Anderson Nlisana, has painted a different view on the events.
He explained that the team wanted to be paid 'qualification' allowance, which is paid when a team qualifies for an international competition. Nlisana said the BNSC does not owe the team any money.
“We do not owe the athletes allowances because we paid those allowances last year to the team that competed at the 2025 World Athletics Relays held in Guangzhou, China. We did not take long to pay; we only waited for doping tests and for the time clocked to be ratified,” Nlisana said.
“That is the team that qualified for the upcoming Debswana World Athletics Relays in Gaborone on May 2 to 3. Other teams will be taking part in the competition because Botswana is hosting, but they did not qualify which means they will not be paid qualification allowance.”
Nlisana revealed the team has been paid camping allowance and appearance fees and explained that the incentives policy does not cover automatic qualification. The athletes raised their concerns in a letter dated April 22, which was addressed to the management of the training camp. In the letter, seen by Mmegi Sport, athletes threatened to withdraw from camp.
“We want to formally express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the current incentives structure provided to athletes in camp, following your response that there is no money and the LOC money is not ours. “As national team athletes preparing to represent Botswana, we have collectively resolved to take action by withdrawing from camp effective April 22, 2026, for the following reasons: rising cost of living and preparation, the cost of everything has increased significantly due to inflation. Training, nutrition, recovery, transport and general upkeep are now expensive. The allowances we currently receive are no longer realistic and do not cover preparation costs, let alone compensate for the time and sacrifice we make,” the letter reads. The athletes further stated that they understand and appreciate that Botswana has been given a wild card as a host, which allowed other teams to participate who otherwise would not have qualified.
However, they said, for those who consistently qualify on merit, the situation removes the qualification incentives they usually rely on. They argue that wild card entry is a direct financial loss, not a gain. The athletes said there is no tangible financial benefit to hosting.
“We are proud to represent the nation, especially as hosts. However, we must ask, what is the benefit of hosting if it disadvantages us, the athletes? There should be something to show for our service to the nation. Hosting should uplift its athletes, not leave them worse off than before,” the letter reads.
“We remain committed to Botswana and to competing at the highest level. But we cannot continue under conditions that undermine our preparation, livelihood and dignity.”
There was a consent form that athletes were requested to sign by the Botswana Athletics Association if they wanted to withdraw from the camp that ended yesterday.