Netball league starts without sponsor

Shingirai Madondo | Wednesday June 11, 2014 06:00

 

The start of the competition has been delayed by the fact that Botswana was hosting the Africa Youth Games. “Sponsorship has eluded us. 

But that does not mean that we are giving up on hunting for a sponsor. 

We are doing everything within our power to ensure that the league has got a financial partner,” said BONA president Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego. 

She said it is crucial to keep players active for the benefit of the national team, hence the league will go ahead. “It will be a shame to the fast emerging game of netball that the corporate world does not see a strategic partner in netball,” said Lebotse-Sebego. 

Mmaneke Kelebogile Maplanka, BONA spokesperson said the south zone competition starts on July 1. 

“The sponsor does not necessarily determine our calendar of events. We live in a country where we are persistently encouraged to be self-sustainable. We need to be able to hold the fort with or without a sponsor,” she said.

Maplanka argued that self-sustenance will attract sponsors to the netball family.

“Seeing that we are responsible enough not to rely on monetary benefits for development of netball, especially the league, sponsors are likely to come to us,” said Maplanka. 

She added that BONA will devise initiatives  to ensure that netball becomes a code of choice in all aspects.