Sebego spices up BNOC presidential race
Botswana Netball Association (BONA) president Tebogo Lebotse Sebego has recently thrown her hat in the Botswana National Olympic Committee presidential race.
This makes Lebotse Sebego the first woman to express interest in leading the Olympic movement. This surprise move has since sparked debate among Lebotse Sebego’s detractors who fear it is orchestrated to destabilise Botsang Tshenyego’s camp.
BG Sport is reliably informed that animosity between the BNOC president and senior vice president is a cause for concern. Tshenyego’s detractors argue that he is part of the blunders in the Kgosietsile administration while his supporters contend that he deserves a chance to ascend to the top position.
The senior vice president’s lobby list is made of incumbent executive members, with anoption to fill positions of senior vice president when he ascends and the 2nd vice president held by ageing Letsholo Letsholo. Other contestants have not released their lobby lists.
Outgoing BNOC president Negroes Kgosietsile encouraged affiliates to give women a chance to contest for top positions at the committee’s last Ordinary General Meeting. Meanwhile Sebego confirmed that she intends to seek nomination for the BNOC elections for the top position.
“I have already shared this with BONA and they have given me their blessings. I believe the past 10 years in sport, specifically netball, both locally and internationally, have prepared me enough to contribute significantly to Botswana sport in general at an elite level”, explained BONA president.
“There is a team of talented experienced sports leaders in our camp. We will officially launch our team and articulate our agenda and what we wish to achieve,” she said.
Lebotse-Sebego is credited for using her influence at the regional, continental and international netball bodies to bring the 2016 netball world youth cup to be hosted in Gaborone. It is not clear how the African Netball president will juggle the BNOC presidential campaign schedule and the hosting and organising of the imminent world cup event.
Gift Nkwe, France Mabiletsa, Daniel Molaodi and Botsang Tshenyego have thrown their hats in the BNOC presidential race as well. The incumbent Negroes Kgosietsile decided four years ago that he will not contest this time around, making way for new president to lead the elite Olympic sport to the next Commonwealth and Olympic games.
Meanwhile International Working Group (IWG) on Women secretary general Game Mothibi said they support women candidates who stand up and express their interest in positions of leadership. “Yes we are very much aware and support her candidacy and all other women who are ready to contest for BNOC positions as well as all other sport positions. We will be rallying behind them and we are planning a workshop with WASBO to assist those in positions for retention and those willing to come in for motivation”, explained Mothibi.
