Govt Rapped Over Paltry Sports Funding
Mqondisi Dube | Monday July 28, 2014 17:45
Sports funding, despite recent notable international achievements, has shrunk from P70million to P50million in the past year. Re-appointed BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng immediately vowed to vigorously engage the government on the issue.
The acting Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Vincent Seretse gave Reikeletseng a fourth term, halting tense speculation on the identity of the new chairperson. “We are going to be aggressive in meeting the government on funding. We can build our case without being militant,” Reikeletseng said soon after re-appointment. Affiliates were unanimous during the four-hour meeting that funding has to improve particularly looking at recent achievements.
The growing uneasy over dwindling- instead of improved funding was laid bare right in front of Seretse and his permanent secretary, Ruth Maphorisa who sat through the meeting. The budget slash has already claimed a victim as a national team’s trip to Zimbabwe is in doubt.
Botswana’s participation at the Africa Union Sports Region V Under-20 Games in December hangs in the balance with Reikeletseng informing affiliates there is no budget. Most of the affiliates complained about the government’s attitude towards sport funding. “Requesting for funds is viewed as a favour. Every time we send teams away, we have to literally beg. As I speak one team’s participation is in doubt due to lack of commitment from the government. We have to change the way we treat sports leaders,” BFA president, Tebogo Sebego said.
He urged an immediate paradigm shift warning sports was in danger of receding as a result of the budget cut.
Botswana Netball Association (BONA) president, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego was equally concerned.
“That (not sending a team) is very concerning, particularly coming just months after we did well at the Africa Youth Games. It affects our preparations for the senior team. Otherwise we will fail to achieve our objectives,” she said.
Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) president, Daniel Molaodi said affiliates were going back-wards as far as funding is concerned.
“The current trend across codes suggests we should increase or at the minimum, maintain funding levels,” he said.
Reikeletseng said the issue had been noted but emphasised the BNSC cannot spend what it does not have in reference to the Zimbabwe trip.
“We have taken note but we cannot spend what we don’t have. It is better to spend knowing how much is in the kitty. Again we cannot send a team that has not prepared,” Reikeletseng said. Meanwhile, a new BNSC chairperson is expected within the next three months. The previous BNSC board was re-elected unopposed while Falcon Sedimo, the director of sports and recreation is a new addition. The BNSC board: Solly Reikeletseng (chairperson), Prof. Martin Mokgwathi (vice chairperson), Boitshoko Tsiane (treasurer), Seabe Raditladi (member), Ookeditse Malesu (member), Falcon Sedimo (member)