Tebogo Kesupile is the acting CEO, a role she assumed after the departure of Botho Bayendi last year.
There was excitement within the sporting fraternity when Bayendi was introduced as the CEO on a five-year contract in April 2022. Bayendi joined the BNOC replacing Tuelo Serufho who moved to the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC).
The appointment of Bayendi was also a lengthy process, with Serufho serving for a long period as acting BNSC CEO. According to information reaching MmegiSport, four candidates, Steve Botlhasitse, Olebile Sikwane, Bennet Mamelodi, and Baboni Kupe were recently interviewed for the post. “It is a vigorous exercise that takes time to appoint a CEO. Currently, there is no information on when the appointment will be made. Interviews have been completed, what is left is the announcement,” a source said. The source said at the moment, it is difficult to say who is likely to take over.
“I cannot tell you anything. Be patient and wait for them. All will be revealed when the time is right,” the source added. Contacted for comment, BNOC president, Colonel Botsang Tshenyego, referred all questions to BNOC senior vice president, Tshepo Sitale. “Sitale is the acting president and the project manager,” he said in a brief response. Sitale did not answer his phone calls or respond to text messages. The BNOC is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the successful participation of Botswana at international competitions and is also the body in charge of the Commonwealth Games for Botswana.
The appointment of the CEO is viewed as crucial, as the country prepares to put together a team that will participate in the Olympic Games in July.
The qualification period for this year's Olympics for athletics started in July 2023 and six athletes have stamped their tickets to Paris. Leungo Scotch, Collen Kebintshipi, Bayapo Ndori and Letsile Tebogo have qualified in the men’s 400m. Tebogo has also booked himself a slot in the men’s 100m and 200m. Tshepiso Masalela and Kethogile Hanguira will battle it out in the men’s 800m.
The men’s 4x400m relay team, despite being disqualified at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 2023, gained automatic qualification to Paris due to their superior rankings.
