Give Branch the money!

Mqondisi Dube | Monday January 22, 2024 16:47

Ross has been the perfect Branch off from what has been the unrelenting daily dose of the tragic comedy at Lekidi Football Centre.

While football authorities were at each other's throat, thousands of kilometres in the barren lands of Saudi Arabia, Branch was leaving positive marks on the desert. Branch finished second overall in the Dakar Rally after romping to two stage wins and delivered a first podium finish since his debut in 2019. All of sudden the gloom mood was lifted and the topic swiftly turned to Branch's heroics.

Here is a man who has selflessly represented his country and ensured Botswana is counted when the motorsport roll call is made.

Branch is never the one to complain, but always gets on with the dirty job at hand despite its demands, both financially and physically. The Dakar Rally is known to be one of the most gruelling and draining off-road races and for Branch to go to concur the unforgiving desert terrain is no mean feat. Enough has already been said in terms of congratulating Branch and the other general talk around Friday's achievement. Now Branch has thrown down the gauntlet to the authorities, in particular the government. In 2012, the government came up with an Incentive Policy in order to recognise athletes' efforts on the international front.

Although the policy was a commendable step, it has a lot of loopholes which at times, see deserving athletes walk away empty handed. The policy is skewed towards popular and mass participation sport. Tuelo Serufho and his board at the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) surely should put their heads together for a comprehensive rethink of this otherwise noble document. In likelihood, Branch's feat does not fall under the Incentive Policy and therefore the government will not feel obliged to reward this hero. But Branch has done as much as Nijel Amos and the 4x400m relay did when they won medals at the Olympic Games.

The Dakar Rally is the World Cup of motorsport. Branch therefore deserves to be rewarded without someone pushing the government to do so. The private sector, we are also watching, do not pass the responsibility to the government alone. It will be embarrassing if nothing is done to give this man his 'financial' flowers while he is still alive. While he received around P300,000 from the organisers, this is a far cry in a financially draining sport like motorsport. It is only proper for his country to show its appreciation by tempering with his bank account in the most positive way. We wait and see what the government will do for this undoubted hero. Over to you!