Phikwe race organisers mum on new sponsor
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday July 31, 2014 16:09
The organisers’ spokesperson, Batisani Masunga said the name of the sponsor remains an internal Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) matter.
Masunga said sponsor would be revealed when the time is right, expected to be during a press conference today. The 2014 race edition was left in doubt after main sponsor, Mascom pulled out. The Mascom sponsored last year’s race for 2013 with P320, 000.
Masunga said the sponsorship loss had a negative impact on the race, but they would soldier on, noting that when the race started more than 20 years ago, there was no sponsor.
“This is a big race and it cannot be disrupted by the absence of a sponsor. A race is all about participation not money. We also have registration fees that are utilised as part of funding the marathon,” Masunga said.
The race is divided into three categories, the 42,2 km, 15 km and 10 km. There is also the four-kilometre fun race. Masunga said prize monies remain unaltered from the previous edition with winners in the 42.2 km race pocketing P25,000, with the first and second runners-up respectively taking home P15,000 and P7,500.
He said runners from Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe have confirmed their participation.
Masunga said the marathon would be used as a qualifier for the next World Championships. The Selebi-Phikwe Town Council (SPTC), has been tasked with the race’s logistics, and the council principal public relations officer, Goodwill Motlhabani said they have set up an office at Bosele hotel.
“We are not the sponsors of the marathon. We are stakeholders in the marathon and we are tasked with providing resources to the committee. International runners will be here and our town should be able to welcome them,” said Motlhabani.