The majority of the NSAs will usher in new leadership as the four-year term lapses. BWF affiliates agreed to set up an elections committee in April during an Annual General Meeting (AGM) that was held in Gaborone over the weekend.
Speaking to Sport Monitor after the meeting, BWF president, Dr Moagi Sharp said they held their first professional wrestling event in Lobatse which was a success. “The event was a success but the main challenge that we have is lack of equipment. We have tried to request the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) to buy us a wrestling ring but they have refused.
The grant that we get from BNSC is very small and we cannot achieve most of the things that we want to do. For now we borrow mats from other codes,” he said. Sharp also said as a way of improving the status of the Federation, they are selling branded water and t-shirts. He stated that they have registered a company in South Africa. Sharp said WBC South Africa will play a pivot role when it comes to finding sponsorship. “It will be better to seek sponsorship especially for equipment from South Africa.
There are many professional wrestling companies that side and if our wrestlers excel in Botswana, they will have an opportunity of joining those companies. Wrestling is a big industry with lots of money in developed economies like South Africa,” he said. Sharp further said the affiliates embraced an idea of setting up wrestling in Lesotho.
He said they might have not achieved anything in Botswana due to lack of support but it will be a different thing in Lesotho because the Lesotho Olympic Committee is ready to assist. “When I get that side I will preach grassroots development. In Botswana, there is pull down syndrome by my fellow countrymen. Wrestling is struggling because it was started by a Motswana.
If it was any other person, we could be far,” he said. Sharp said they want to start monthly training camps in areas like Gaborone adding that for the first time they will not host wrestling national championships due to lack of funds.
Makwena Sebetha from WBC South Africa said wrestling in Botswana can only grow if it has support. She said the establishment of WBC South Africa will assist WBC Botswana with equipment. “In my country every sport code is taken seriously.
That is why it is easy for companies to come on board. We have different sporting codes and all of them are successful. We can bring that development here in Botswana. Right now wrestling is having their events on mats that is an eyesore and people want to see the real thing, that is to say wrestling match should be on a wrestling mat,” Sebetha said.
