Olympic team released without allowances
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 2, 2016 14:45
Information reaching Mmegi Sport indicates that the athletes left camp without being paid their allowances. An impeccable source close to developments said the athletes even pleaded with the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) to intervene in the matter. BAA is said to have referred the athletes back to the BNOC. The failure to pay the athletes’ allowances for time spent after the Games comes amid reports P300,000 was used for the tours, including the welcome dinner.
“We have not yet received our allowances but the BNOC has not updated us on the progress regarding payment. We had expected to have received them by now,” said one disappointed athlete who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation. But BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said they have paid the athletes their allowances. He said it was not true that the team left camp, which ended yesterday, empty handed. Meanwhile, BNOC is said to have apologised to the BAA over the Olympics team to Francistown after the athletics body complained about insufficient communication.
BAA was reportedly in the dark and only learnt about the trip after the athletes had already left for the second city. The trip was meant to celebrate the team’s achievements, which included among others, Karabo Sibanda and the 4x400m relay team’s reaching the finals.
BAA and BNOC met on Wednesday afternoon to iron out their differences with the BNOC apologising for the oversight. A source said the meeting was convened by Serufho.
“We were complaining that they had not informed us when they took the team to Francistown. Serufho said it was an oversight that they did not inform BAA about the trip. He admitted that it was a mistake and apologised for that,” he said. The source said the BAA also complained about Sibanda’s failure to participate at the IAAF Diamond League which took place in Zurich yesterday. The BNOC is said to have also apologised for the athlete’s failure to travel where Sibanda was expected to make his Diamond League debut.
Quizzed about the meeting, Serufho refused to confirm nor deny if indeed they met.