BOTSWANA has been making huge strides in sport in recent years.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
The country of less than two million inhabitants qualified for their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals this year although they failed to last the distance.
This year proved to be another historic moment for the country after they won their first-ever Olympic medal in 32 years when Amos Nijel won a silver in the 800m race at the London Summer Olympics.
In contrast, Zimbabwe with a population of over 15 million failed to qualify for the Afcon finals, while Team Zimbabwe came back from the London Olympics empty handed.
Former Botswana National Sports Council vice-chairman Kagiso Kemoeng, who was the guest of honour at the Annual National Sports Awards (Ansa) ceremony on Thursday night, offered some advice to Zimbabwe.
“I wish to urge the Zimbabwe government to review its support to sport. Sport deserves better, for it continues to be proven that sport is not only a major contributor to good health, it is also an important economic stimulator.
“I also urge the corporate world to continue supporting sport in this country at different levels. At the same time I caution the sporting fraternity not to take the government and private sector support for granted. The fraternity should raise their brand and level of performance such that the government and other partners would see in them a worthwhile partner as they endeavour to reach their business objectives. More than anything else, the sporting fraternity should account for every piece of support that comes its way.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Kemoeng, who currently works in the Zone VI Supreme Council, revealed his government allocates more than $10 million towards sports from its National Budget every year, in contrast to Zimbabwe, whose allocation is less than $1 million.
He welcomed the Zimbabwe decision to host the sixth edition of the Zone VI Youth Games in 2014, saying it will help in improving the development of talent as well as sporting facilities in the country “I congratulate the government for making a move in this direction and urge the people to rally behind them in preparing for these games. We should not allow ourselves to be fooled by time, for two years under these circumstances can easily pass without us realising it. On behalf of the Zonal Organising Committee we make ourselves available to assist you in preparing for hosting the games,” said Kemoeng.
Zimbabwe number one golfer Brendon De Jonge was the biggest winner of the night after he scooped the coveted Sportsperson of the Year as well as the Sportsman of the Year awards.
Mackenzie James Fraser, who was the youngest rower at the London Olympics, won the Junior Sportsperson and Junior Sportsman of the Year awards.
The 19-year-old Harvard engineering student said: “I tried really hard the whole year. It was a good experience for me at the Olympics and I know I didn’t do well, but I know that I’m still young and I have more Olympic years ahead of me. If I keep the same determination and receive the same support from my country, I can do a lot better. I’m now staying and studying in United Kingdom, but I’m keeping my Zimbabwe passport and my citizenship. I’m proud to be Zimbabwean and I have to make the country proud,” said Frazer.
