Sports budget inches closer to P100 million
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 23, 2018 15:25
The actual figure from last year was just above P60million, but rose to P93million, thanks to the country hosting a number of international events, which included the World Youth Netball Cup and the World Baseball Softball Confederation Congress.
This year’s increase, therefore is significant, considering Botswana will host only one major tournament, the Region V Africa Union Sport Council in December.
BNSC chairperson, Solomon Reikeletseng is happy with the northward movement.
“We have been getting around P60million and this is a giant leap. It has a positive impact. Obviously we request double the amount, but we are happy with what we got,” Reikeletseng said.
Sports has always decried poor funding, and during the 2016 BNSC general meeting in Kanye, Reikeletseng said sport had made its case for improved funding.
The performance of the likes of Isaac Makwala, Nijel Amos and Amantle Montsho on the world stage, warranted increased grants, critics argued.
There was the case of targeted funding where other disciplines believe that budget allocations should be made based on performance.
However, a code like football, regardless of performance, will always get a larger slice of the cake due to its mass appeal and participation.
Meanwhile, Constituency Tournaments have been allocated P40million.