Tension over BAA's P2m carrot
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday October 22, 2024 09:26
However, some delegates believe the BAA should lead the way and not the other way around. The BAA has received a P2 million grant from Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) to be used in club development. According to a letter from the secretariat, clubs have been requested to discuss amongst themselves and share ideas with the BAA on how the funds should be distributed. This, according to the BAA, is meant to ensure effective and efficient utilisation to assist clubs in their development. The deadline for the submission of ideas is October 24. However, tension is mounting and some affiliates suspect that the board is using the grant to court favour with the clubs. “The board should come up with a plan, not clubs. There is a strategy, which is not being fulfilled due to lack of funds. Affiliates are asking many questions ahead of the OGM,” one club official said.
Whilst welcoming the idea, Maun Track and Field Club chairperson, Ralph Ledimo, said the board should have led by example. “The board should have put something in place before engaging clubs. Clubs are not equal and our demands are not the same. Some of them become active during elections whilst some never miss any meet,” Ledimo told MmegiSport. He said it is impossible for the funding to be distributed equally. He said clubs like Maun, have athletes coming all the way from the Okavango area and that sportspersons are the responsibility of the club. For his part, the Ramotswa Athletics Club chairperson, Harold Mosomane, said it is a dicey situation because they do not know if the grant is a once-off gesture or something that will come annually. “If it was an annual grant and sustainable, I would say the money should be used looking at BAA key performance areas, which are mainly the development done by clubs. The BAA has projects like how many athletes will qualify for 2025 international events including Tokyo World Athletics Championships and 2028 Olympics,” Mosomane said.
He said for now the association cannot expect much from the affiliates because the BAA is not funding them. “Some of the issues to consider include the training of coaches, transport for athletes, access to facilities, feeding, and accommodation. Funds are also needed for experts such as physiotherapists, psychologists, and coaches. Women athletes are performing below their male counterparts and need deliberate incubation to close the gap and it needs funding,” he said. Mosomane said for athletics to grow, there should be a grant to cover all costs. He suggested that a certain percentage should be left with the association to assist in financing clubs that host events under the BAA calendar. “If it is a once-off funding, then I would suggest half of it be used on investment to create income for BAA to reduce over-dependency on the government, which makes it difficult to fully implement plans. For this to succeed, there is a need for prudence,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BAA vice president-administration, Oabona Theetso, said they have not received suggestions on how the funds should be utilised. “Clubs have been struggling and some failing to attend some races so this will come in handy,” Theetso said.