Jones targets new areas in rugby revival
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 28, 2014 11:47
Mmegi Sport: Congratulations on your new post. Can you please introduce yourself?
Jones: I am a Motswana and I have been playing rugby since primary school in South Africa. I even had an opportunity to play for a certain team in Pretoria. I have been involved with BRU for many years since I am part of Gaborone Hogs. I am proud to have been given a chance to lead the union.
Mmegi Sport: What are your immediate priorities? Jones: My intention is to take rugby to areas where it does not exist such as Lobatse. I want the sport to be available to the youth. They are the future of the game. Grassroots development is my first priority. Rugby can be played by anyone, despite the physical built or gender.
If we improve players at a tender age, it means we will have a proper feed into the national teams.
The plan of my committee is for clubs to have development academies. We currently have academies at Hogs, EMG Gunners, Tlamelong Centre, Francistown and Maun.
I encourage other clubs to follow suit. We intend to put a lot of effort into the national 7’s team that will be representing Botswana at the Africa Youth Games.
Mmegi Sport: What is your plan in bridging the gap between teams in the northern and southern part of the country?
Jones: It is always a challenge to bridge the gap between the two parts of the country. The difficult part comes in the selection of national team players. The plan is to have trials for the national team and give every player who has been selected a chance to prove themselves.
I am well aware that every player wants to wear the national team colours. The issue of resources will always remain a challenge.
Mmegi Sport: What are your plans regarding sponsorship of rugby especially the A Division League?
Jones: We are in dire straits when it comes to sponsorship. I appeal to the business community to assist us. We cannot continue playing a league that does not have a sponsor. We need a sponsor who can cover travelling costs for the clubs. Playing without a sponsor is tough.
Mmegi Sport: How are you going to continue the relationship BDF had with BRU since they do not have a member in the executive committee?
Jones: I am going to make a proposal to the affiliates during an upcoming meeting to allow me to co-opt an official from BDF.
Mmegi Sport: What is the future of ladies rugby?
Jones: We are going to put a strategy in place that will see the appointment of facilitators for ladies rugby.
Such an officer will be dealing directly with making sure that ladies rugby gets all the attention it deserves. We will also have facilitators for A and B Divisions. Such officers will be reporting directly to me.
Mmegi Sport: When will the rugby league start?
Jones: We have given the draft league fixtures to the clubs and we are waiting for them to decide on the dates. At the moment I cannot say when the league will commence.
Mmegi Sport: Anything you want to say in conclusion?
Jones: I urge Batswana to support rugby and we want to see it get a lot of following like football. I also want to thank the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) for their continuous support.