BR H�landers appeal for Mahalapye stadium
Bonte Seepi | Tuesday August 4, 2015 13:59
Speaking at a well-attended fundraising dinner over the weekend, BR Highlanders chairman, Bosenogile Gabotale said he was worried that there is no stadium in Mahalapye. “We are always playing our games outside our base. We have been facing this problem for a long time now. “The shortest distance we travel is to Serowe. That’s where we play most of the games that we are supposed to play at home,” he said.
Gabotale said the absence of a stadium meant the team could not build a strong relationship with their supporters.
He said the community of Mahalapye as well as leaders should see this team as an opportunity to develop a stadium. The chairman noted the challenge of shortage of funds saying this hinders the club’s efforts to establish Under-17 and women’s teams.
He, therefore, pleaded with the community and leaders to assist them.
Meanwhile, the Central District Deputy District Commissioner, Bakuedi Masole applauded Botswana Railways (BR) for supporting various sporting codes regardless of the parastatal’s financial struggles.
He expressed great concern over players who use drugs and alcohol. He said most of players in Botswana have a tendency of depending on habit-forming dugs like dagga, which are not good for their career.
Masole encouraged northern teams to stop dominance by the teams from the south. He said he is happy that this year the teams in the north have increased in number hence the competition will be tight especially with the Serowe teams.
Still at the dinner, players and officials were awarded prizes for their outstanding good performances.
The team also unveiled their 2015/2016 kit. Team captain, Leteng Legopelo was adjudged the player of the season while player’s player of the season award went to Boikobo Osupile. The longest serving player award went to Temo Keorileng who has played for the team for 12 years.
Kabo Ntshwaneng walked away with the goalkeeper of the season award while Silas Kemiso won the top goal scorer award.
The most improved player was Kgakgamatso Ramatshosa while Brian Kobe won the most disciplined player award. Ontiretse Didibeng walked away with supporter of the season award while team spokesperson Jacob Monyeki and Botswana Railways director of human capital, Letlhogonolo Bantsi, won the chairman’s awards.