Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
29 August 2008
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is holding its annual national championships this weekend without the sponsor, Debswana.
BAA spokesman, Glody Dube said Debswana has pulled out of the event they have been sponsoring for more than five years now. "We hear that they say they now want to concentrate on grass-roots programmes," Dube said.
Debswana has been financing the national finals with P60,000. Last year the athletics body which is struggling to raise sponsorship had to use the Debswana funds prudently by staging an awards event with part of the P60,000.
Dube told Mmegi Sport they will have to stage the tournament without a partner tomorrow. He said the absence of a sponsor is likely to scare away athletes. "It was one of the few local events with sponsorships. The prize fund motivated athletes a lot because it enabled us to stage a professionally run event that was also graced by athletes from outside," Dube said.
"Honestly speaking, the athletes also used the prizes for professional development. They could buy training gear, for instance, so I would not be surprised if the number of participants drop this weekend as a result of the sponsorship problem," Dube said.
However, the BAA has no choice but to stage the event. "If we do not stage it, we face the wrath of the International Athletics Federation (IAAF). It is a requirement that a member of the IAAF stages national finals. Otherwise, we might even be denied grants," Dube went on.
Debswana communication manager, Esther Kanaimba could not be reached for comment as she was said to be attending a meeting with the company's spokesperson, Amelia Malebane.
Debswana has committed P1.9 million to Botswana Football Association (BFA) development programme this year. The company has supported the national soccer team in the past to go for training camps in Brazil and Belgium besides sponsoring netball and volleyball tournaments.
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