Table tennis leaders overstay as funds delay
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday November 4, 2023 06:00
BTTA president, Kudzanani Motswagole, said they overstayed in office as they received their annual subversion from Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) late as the funds were deposited in July. Motswagole added that it has not been all smooth running. “From there, we immediately started preparing for the AGM, which included auditing the financial statement. That is a complex process and it took us three months to complete, which is not bad looking at the fact that we never stopped the calendar of events, rather we did all this at the same time. For the record, this year there was too much workload,” he said.
Complaints were raised that the deadline for the submission of names for candidates was at short notice. Motswagole explained that they are guided by the BTTA constitution, and if that is the case then it should be amended. He said the document was not designed by the executive committee but rather, it guides the executive committee. Meanwhile, Motswagole is unopposed as he seeks another term in office. He told Mmegi Sport that his track record as BTTA president speaks volumes hence the need to continue serving. “I transformed table tennis from amateur to semi professional. In the BNSC tier system, we were promoted from tier four to tier two, basically from low impact to middle impact National Sport Association (NSA).
The BTTA was in the top three NSAs in the Botswana Sports Awards for 2020 and 2021 as nominees together with our sponsor, Phoenix Assurance Botswana,” he said. Motswagole said under his leadership, they secured long-term sponsorships from Phoenix and Stag International, who are technical sponsors and BTTA has benefited over P1 million worth of equipment. The BTTA recently signed another four-year term sponsorship with Stag Global and there are other sponsors such as First Capital Bank. “We managed to secure accident policy for table tennis players, which covers them against death and permanent disability, among others. The strategic partnerships with the Indian High Commission led to 11 players securing long-term scholarships in India with the idea that they get better clubs to play for while studying that side,” he said.
Motswagole said the BTTA also has partnerships with Botho University, which has assisted the association to achieve its mandate, which has driven them to become professional and recognised internationally. He said he was also voted president of the Southern Africa region while local umpire, Ritah Sebele officiates international matches. He believes that concerning governance, his executive committee out did themselves. The vice president administration position will be a battle between Zacharia Seabo and Reatile Morapedi while vice president-technical sees a contest between Kabo Mosarwa and Boykie Selerio.
The incumbent vice president-finance Ooabona Raditloko will continue in his position as he is unchallenged. Godirilweone Bagwasi is unopposed in his position as development coordinator. Incumbent, Tlamelo Ntebele is also unchallenged for the additional member position. Tshegofatso Malepa and Matlhogonolo Tirelo will battle it out for the position of public relations officer (PRO).