Funding proves handball�s stumbling block
Tlotlo Kebinakgabo | Friday February 3, 2017 13:45
HAB has previously stated a desire to be included in the Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) programmes in an effort to help grow the sport.
But funding has proved to be the stumbling block.
Onyewadume told Mmegi Sport yesterday that negotiations with BISA are slow due to lack of funds. “Our money has long been exhausted and I have been using my own money to carry out association work. I was supposed to go to France for a meeting of Handball presidents across the world but I didn’t as l couldn’t use my money anymore,” he said.
Onyewadume said the grant from the government was too little to sustain their activities. “Our share does not help us grow as sport. Remember we have to develop coaches, players and referees but with the share we get that is not possible,” Onywadume said. He however refused to reveal their allocation from the government. Almost all codes have complained about poor funding.
He said since handball is a relatively new sport, with fewer people aware of its existence, it has been difficult to source financial assistance. “If you have a new baby, you have to give him more attention, teach that baby how to walk and feed it for it to grow. If you leave the baby alone then growth is likely to be stunted, we need more support,” he said.
Onyewadume further said the main aim this year is to make sure that more schools are approached in order to promote the sport. “We want to approach the Ministry of Basic Education for them to add handball to their curriculum under Physical Education (PE) so that it can be an examinable subject like other sporting codes. PE teachers who went through University of Botswana (UB) can actually teach/coach handball as it was part of their curriculum at UB,” he said.
Handball is currently played in eight schools across Botswana, with two clubs. They however face a facility headache, as there is currently one court at the UB.