BVF wants dialogue over constituency league
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 26, 2015 13:00
President Ian Khama, as a mechanism to keep unemployed youth off the streets, introduced the initiative. However, the BVF argues players continue to leave mainstream volleyball in pursuit of financial gains offered by the constituency tournaments.
BVF president, Daniel Molaodi, said that when the initiative was started, the then Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Shaw Kgathi invited them for a meeting meant to come up with ways of minimising impact on the league. He suggested that the operations of the league be revisited to balance them out.
“We submitted a letter to the ministry but that was the end of it. I must admit that the constituency league is able to cover vast areas. That is a positive thing but the problem is the competition it gives to the BVF league,” he said.
Molaodi also said that the BVF and the ministry should find common ground on the matter adding that the two bodies should compliment each other.
The volleyball boss said it would be difficult for BVF to compete against a league funded by government. Molaodi said mainstream clubs are struggling to find sponsors, adding that players in the constituency league are guaranteed financial assistance all the time.
Some former coaches and members of the BVF have set up clubs, which participate in the constituency league, Molaodi noted. He added some clubs have been forced to disband due to the government’s program, but others in the north folded due to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF)’s withdrawal.
Spiking Stars assistant coach, Oteng Ramocha said that some players have decided to play in the league because they are attracted by financial gains. He said clubs in the BVF league should not be expected to compete for players with the constituency league.
Clubs that are said to have disbanded due to the constituency league are; Matlhasedi (Molepolole), Motlakase (Palapye), Hillside and Victory Seekers (Lobatse), Sparrows (Mahalapye), Arsenal (Serowe), Difofane (Francistown), Electra and Spartans (Selebi-Phikwe) and the other club was Chobe in Maun.
One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, argued that the constituency league is a good initiative for the development of volleyball. He also said that the league is able to cover places that BVF is unable to reach, adding that people in such areas play the sport for passion unlike league players who play for financial gain.