Critical next 50 days for Netball World Cup
Mqondisi Dube | Friday May 19, 2017 11:34
Yesterday, the country marked 50 days before the start of the NWYC on July 8 but there is still work ahead before the organisers can safely welcome the competing teams.
Lebotse-Sebego said there are still pending issues in the “to do” list. “I would say I need the next 50 days to finalise and make the NWYC2017 plans more precise,” she said. Lebotse-Sebego, also the president of Africa Netball Association, wants to use the remaining days to ensure the tickets for the games are released. She wants more hype created around the games and a trophy tour “so that the games are not just about Gaborone.”
The issue of security and emergency plan also tops her agenda as Botswana prepare to welcome the world to Gaborone for the competition, which runs from July 8 to 16.
Twenty countries, including four from Africa, will compete for the ultimate prize in the youth competition, the first global tournament to be held on the continent.
The Botswana government has committed nearly P11 million to ensure the successful hosting of the event, while the competition’s Local Organising Committee has drawn a budget of P30 million.
The difference is still being sought from the private sector, with partners steadily coming on board.
“We are at a point where we have to do with what we have as we still pursue more sponsorships.
The government had initially provided P10.9 million, but they had made further provisions and we are grateful.
We continue to make the necessary budget adjustments looking at what we are definite about at each point,” Lebotse-Sebego said.
Today netball will launch group sponsorship and schools engagement at the BotswanaCraft.
Amongst the major sponsors for the tournament are Debswana, who weighed in with P1.2million, the largest amount outside government, Brand Botswana, The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Btv, Spar and website developers, MindQ.