The grapevine has it that the reason behind the snub is a latent power struggle between the BNSC and the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC). Though top officials from the two organisations deny that there is a tussle for power, they admit that they have differences.
It is understood that the BNSC and BNOC do not see eye to eye as each claim to be senior to the other. This has resulted in BNOC on many occasions either boycotting, leaving earlier or coming late for BNSC meetings. So it might have been pay back time when BNOC was handing over the International Olympic Committee award to Merafhe.
But the chief executive officer of BNSC Kitso Kemoeng explained that they missed the event because they received the invitation late. He said they received the invite on the day of the event. Kemoeng rubbished allegations that BNSC and BNOC are at loggerheads.
He said there is no way they could be jostling for power as they are at the same level. "We are equal in terms of power," he told Mmegi Sport yesterday. He added that they are both responsible for implementing polices facilitated by the Department of Sports and Recreation (DSR). Kemoeng said he wanted to attend the BNOC event because it involved a high profile person. He said if BNOC had something against them, they would not have invited BNSC to the event. He does not suspect any malice from BNOC in sending the invitation late. Kemoeng explained that they had a meeting with BNOC to find how they can work together. "I do not think our differences are as serious as you think. We are working together in a positive relationship," he said.
Andrew Kamanga of BNOC told Mmegi Sport that the chairperson of BNSC gave apologies for her absence. He said they accepted the apology because they (BNSC) had a meeting at the time of the event. Kamanga however disputed Kemoeng's claims that they received the invitation late. He said the invitation was sent in good time. He described as unfounded allegations that there is war between BNOC and BNSC. "We only have differences to resolve but not war as people suggest." However, Kamanga said they are not worried about the absence of BNSC at the event.
"We are concerned about what we want to achieve as BNOC, whether or not we have support from anybody we still have a job to do," he said.
