BNOC Race On The Home Stretch

Naledi Lemogang | Tuesday October 3, 2017 17:09

The candidates faced-off in the first of two debates at Tlotlo Conference Centre on Thursday.

Tomorrow, the candidates will take part in a second debate, organised by the Sports Writers Association of Botswana (SWABO) and will be televised on Btv.

Elections would be held on Saturday at Cresta Lodge where 26 BNOC affiliates would cast their votes, with a new leader to take over from Kgosietsile, who has been at the helm for close to two decades.

The presidential candidates are former Botswana Football Association chief executive officer, Ookeditse Malesu, BNOC vice president, Botsang Tshenyego, Botswana Volleyball Federation president, Daniel Molaodi, president of Botswana Netball Association, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego and former Commonwealth Games boxing medallist, France Mabiletsa.

Mabiletsa said the fact that he does not hold any sports position gives him the advantage.

He said there is need to brand elite athletes and improve their performance on the world stage.

Malesu said he is a strategic candidate who is willing to fix certain aspects at BNOC.

He said there is need to supervise elite athletes.

“I believe that BNOC should be highly involved in assisting these athletes before and after their competitions in order to monitor their performance and keep them in a spirit of winning all the time,” he said.

Lebotse-Sebego said she has the winning mentality to improve the performance of athletes at international level in her short term strategy.  In the long term, she said branding codes would be a priority.

Tshenyego said it is critical to accord equal treatment to all codes.  He defended the decision to allow BNOC board members to contest elections.

Molaodi said he would ensure functional structures and to re-define the role of the board.

He also said he would tackle issues of elite athletes and women in sport.