Malesu unveils his BNOC roadmap

Former Botswana Football Association (BFA) CEO Ookeditse Malesu says if elected Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) president, he will ensure that elite athletes are given the dignity they deserve during and after competitions. Malesu said this when launching his manifesto to different BNOC affiliates earlier this week in Gaborone. As one of his biggest concerns, Malesu said local athletes are often overlooked despite having gone all out to represent the country. He said a number of prominent local athletes recently told him that they are often neglected after national team camp.

“The athletes return to their respective homes, these poor lads are left with nobody to take care of them, they struggle alone either psychologically or nursing physical injuries,” he said.The optimistic Malesu said the future of local sports is in their hands as sports leaders and they need to drive athletes to excellence. He said Botswana is currently sitting on talent and they need to reinforce measures.

“We need to have an organised athletes' village where everything will be set up, not to run with local lodges everytime,” he suggested. His aim is to ensure that sports talent does not hit the floor on their watch, “We have the likes of 800m runner Nigel Amos, he is the first Motswana to bring us a silver medal from the Olympics and so far the last. We need to assist such gifted athletes maintain their performances.”

He added that in order for sports to develop locally, they need a collective effort from different sporting codes. This he said, will make the government understand what they intend to do and hopefully be able to attract sponsorships. “Our athletes are busy roaming the streets let us create jobs for them and tap into available opportunities that will bring us more funding,” Malesu said.

Former Africa Karate Champion Thabiso Maretlwaneng said Malesu helped him grow as an athlete. He said during Malesu’s tenure as Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president, he was inspired to become the country’s finest.“His mentorship and leadership skills ensured that we are capable of competing against the very best in the world,” he said. Former Director of Gender Affairs and also IWG Vice Chairperson Valencia Mogegeh described Malesu as an independent thinker, visionary and disciplined.

“He will only endorse things that speak to his conscience; he is an honest and credible leader who has integrity. He is a man of his words, it is very important to have people who will not bend based on the direction in which the wind is blowing,” she advised.Malesu lost to the incumbent president Negroes Kgosietsile four years ago and is currently vying for the top seat against four other powerful candidates in France Mabiletsa, Daniel Molaodi, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego and Botsang Tshenyego.