Shah urges sponsors to stay on board
Olefile Serokolo | Thursday August 10, 2017 15:34
Shah was speaking during a recent marathon dinner held here. He said sponsors should stay on board for longer considering the town’s economic situation. He added that sponsors should not cry but join hands with the residents to overcome the situation. He said the marathon has grown tremendously.
“What started as a fun walk 32-years ago has now become an annual event. Running is the most beautiful exercise. It keeps a person going and healthy and it is also what you can develop as a career. There are so many marathon runners in the world; talk about the London Marathon and New York Marathon.
We can all develop our careers through this exercise,” the Township Rollers president said. He said after such a long time, the Phikwe marathon has become the most enduring in the country. He thanked Orange Botswana for coming on board to sponsor the race.
He said SPEDU is a partner in the race, as the marathon is not only meant to promote sports but plays an important role in the economic development of the region.
“SPEDU recognises the marathon in the annual calendar in this region. The intention is to drive events and people to this town so as to sustain the hospitality sector,” Shah said.
Orange Botswana chief executive officer, Patrick Benon said after the success of last year’s event they are now convinced that the marathon is an important event in the calendar of the town and can be utilised particularly during the current economic challenges.
He said Orange Phikwe National Marathon sponsorship is their way to show their commitment towards the town and that they believe in its potential.
“As Orange, we believe that there is an opportunity to package the marathon so that we can support different businesses in Selebi-Phikwe. We also believe that the marathon can be used to promote tourism in the town and the surrounding villages,” he said.
The marathon’s public relations officer, Kennedy Dudzayi said the marathon is in its second of a three-year contract with the sponsor, Orange Botswana. He added that the marathon, which was commonly known as Bosele Marathon has had transitional periods in which its name changed to reflect the growth achieved over the years.