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EDITOR'S BUBBLE

IS PRINT MEDIA UNDERRATED OR BIG BRANDS DOUBT OUR CAPABILITIES TO ADVERTISE WITH US? MPHO MAOKA FOR PERSPECTIVE MAGAZINE Despite what you may have heard, their opinions and voices writing reports of the “death of print” blogs and sharing in social have been greatly exaggerated. networks.

A recent survey found out that “A natural next step is to create 88% of magazine readers still something permanent … I think prefer to consume articles via the mainstream publishers print. have let down the industry and While half of respondents to the individuals are trying to create state-of-the-media survey, aged better publications.

14 to 75 owned a smartphone, “But it’s not just amateurs who most of them subscribed to at are responsible. Some of the least one printed magazine . internet’s big players fashion Of course, with the adoption of sites- such as style.com, asos. tablet devices on the rise, this com and netaporter.com, online figure could well be out of date kids’ game Moshi Monsters and already – particularly given the yes, even Google itself – are rapid improvement in the quality now publishing print magazines, of digital publications, and the using traditional media to refresh demand for them to do more the parts of their business model than merely replicate the content that other solutions can’t reach. of print titles online.

“For online brands, print is a neat But, regardless of some high- way of gaining extra marketing profile print closures in recent attention and boosting their years, the stories of doom and community, even if there’s no gloom in the publishing industry money in it. have been tempered by a minirenaissance in independent titles. “I like the South African magazine models, the print publications has an unlikely saviour!

“Ironically, I attribute it to the exist to anchor the brands and internet,” states Jeremy Leslie, the define the voices. man behind magculture.com, a “But the money comes from site any self-respecting magazine the TV channels, the brand junkie should bookmark. partnerships, the events and their relevant stakeholders.

Leslie continues: “You might be able to look at a “A lot of people have discovered digital game or magazine on an

iPad, but you can’t cut things out, colour-in, take pen to paper or stick it on your wall. of print, particularly among younger generations supposedly reared in the digital age, is something dear to them.

“When we watch students with books, there’s a very different experience, there’s that power of having something physical that they own, particularly when they write and see their name in print; it’s always there. With computers, it’s all gone at the touch of a button.

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Dec/ Jan 2023

“For all the wily charms of the It’s often counterproductive the digital world should kill print. digital world with its tweets, to create divisions and make Lack of innovation or providing feeds, blogs and apps, there is comparisons between the worlds a poor product is far more likely nothing like the pleasure created of online and print. by ink and paper,” It’s our admittedly unorthodox of technological opportunities While admitting that “live- opinion that the two can co-exist, that can be used to support and interact with print are definitely blogging and the pounding and in fact should co-exist, waves of the twenty four hour But they need to do things a bonus, not a threat.”

Anyone that’s on my table has news cycle have their appeal”, our monthly magazine instead takes magazine, and indeed any had to defend me at some point a leisurely and contrary look physical book, needs to set itself in their life. backwards over the previous apart from the web. Physical Ask any boxer, “In the third three weeks before publication. forms of the written word need round, when he hit you from the We have no interest in creating to offer a clear and different side on your ear, how did that throwaway media, experience. And if they do, we specifically feel?”

You wouldn’t dare ask a boxer We want to make something believe, they will survive. which is treasured, which ends its Print does certain things very that. Because you know they’re there to fight. days making the bookshelf, coffee table or toilet, just that little bit and the luxury of devoting time Meaning now you know I’m here prettier and more civilised. to the printed page that you can’t to fight. I’m here to fight for the re-education of what celebrity is.

Our readers are often writing put a price on. blogs anyway because the beautyBut at the same time, there’s an To say, “Yes, we are celebrities, of online is that it allows them immediacy and ‘shareability’ to but yes, we’re also innovators, to instantaneously share with a the online world that’s just as we’re also inventors, we’re also larger audience. valuable in its own unique way. thoughtful.”

But the relationship with books is However, we found out that Brand journalism does not mean different. Kids take books home the print magazine is so much marketing without a strategy. and they can keep them. more efficient in terms of budget Every brand needs to have a Some students come from and recognition than doing a strategy that includes a clearly brand framework, underprivileged backgrounds, streaming media website, which defined delineating the brand boundaries and often, these children only we aspired to back then.

So the magazine got a life of its within which the brand is free to have religious books at home. own and grew into a big glossy be creative. mag celebrating print’s qualities. that the brand’s promise remains Ironically, the website now serves consistent. We call our approach primarily as an archive for the “freedom within a framework.” magazine.

Says Leslie, “magazines are editorial policy that defines simply very effective ways of the distinctive character of the engaging with people. To the brand, as well as the boundaries greatest extent, it just seems within which the brand stories like common sense to us that are created. any company would want to Mpho Mooka communicate with people “More than that, it’s proof that creativity and ideas will always To be continued in our next issue find new ways to inspire younger generations.”

Computers and video games haven’t killed physical toys and games, so there’s no reason why PERSPECTIVE

Dec/ Jan 2023

BONA 2027 OFFICIALLY KICKSOFF JOINT BID FOR THE 36TH EDITION OF

Botswana and Namibia have been trading partners for centuries. Long before our independence in 1966, and long before Namibia’s independence 2027 BETWEEN BOTSWANA AND in 1990. Our people have demonstrated beyond NAMIBIA HAS TAKEN OFF AFTER BOTH reasonable doubt, that together they can COUNTRIES SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF harmoniously share food, water, wildlife, diamonds, UNDERSTANDING IN GABORONE. culture, language and many other beautiful things that life gives them. Like brothers and sisters, we BONA2027 bidding team consisting of members have had a fair share of misunderstanding as is common in all families; it is how we resolved these John Muinjo Football Expert (Botswana), Phazha Butale, Football Expert (Botswana), Segolame Ramotlhwa, Acting Director of Sport (Namibia), Irvine Ndjavera, Director of Sport (Botswana), Imon Bogosi, Botswana National

Botswana what you are to your brother or sister. You for the good of the both of you.

Quoting some famous icons Minister Tumiso Rakgare says accomplished Kenyan Mexican actress Expert (Namibia MSYNS) ,Timothy Tjongarero, Lupiya Nyongo’ once said; indeed, all your dreams Botswana Football Association CEO, Mfolo are valid.

Mfolo, Acting Secretary General (NFA) Jacqueline Nelson Mandela, the universal symbol of hope once Gertze, Football Expert (NFA), Tovey Hoebeb, said; it is impossible until it is done.

Secretariat to the Bid Technical Committee and Rogerdeltry Kambatuku ‘Now, i have demonstrated that Botswana and Namibia are siblings, we are brother and sister. I have demonstrated the adversity that both countries When opening the ceremony, Minister of Youth, have gone through during colonisation, and before, Gender, Sports, Arts and Culture Tumiso Rakgare said Botswana and Namibia are united as one. remained strong through the storms. We must In the past, now and in the future. ‘Together, we remain even stronger when we dream together. We come a long way. Our history is rooted in trade, must walk this path side by side, with our hands culture, traditions, language, religion and many held together as one’. He went on. aspects of life’.

He says the beauty of sport is that it unites people PERSPECTIVE

Dec/ Jan 2023

both black and white. Sport has ended racism and xenophobia. Sport has ended wars elsewhere in the world. Fortunately, between Botswana and Namibia, our wish is to facilitate for rapid sports infrastructure such as stadia, training facilities, general infrastructure development such as roads, hospitality and create employment through sports, hospitality and tourism, develop sport science and Information Technology.

On her behalf Hounarable Agnes Basilla Tjongarero of Namibia said it is indeed singular honour to

Bidding to host is a dream which if materialized would see a lot of appetite from both Government

two countries have tirelessly been working to get us where we are today.

hosting Afcon are immense. Youths continue to idle

It indeed has been an exciting and eventful time

statistical information about crime rate and poverty in our region which by default is a consequence of idleness.

documents that have been developed in the past

Rakgare says there is need to arrest social and economic ills through sport.

Without doubt, the mileage and publicity that comes with hosting this prestigious tournament is incalculable. ‘I believe BONA presents a compelling case to CAF to look at our proposition to host as a totally refreshing case. Our dream is centred on a developmental ambition more than a mere 90-minute spectacle. It must be the footballers and its ancillary

witness this unprecedented kick-starting of an ambitious but critical project between the two the two heads of states who met and agreed on the possible co-hosting of the two governments.

Subsequent to the meeting of the two heads of state the two governments agreed in February

of Agreement, the Terms of Reference for the proposal to name a few. assessment of existing facilities whilst waiting for CAF to release guidelines for developing a Bid document for the 2027 AFCON Finals.

legacy must be unquestionable’. He says.

She says development of a robust and appealing strategy that will secure the involvement of the private sector and other key stakeholders at the bid stage of the project to compliment the resource contributions of the two Governments;

is a quintessential example of how football has fundamentally changed the infrastructure

means that Botswana will contribute 60% of the resources needed for the project, and Namibia

has demonstrated not just hope and faith; it has without doubt imbued all of us with the euphoria that anything is possible, if you work towards a common goal and objective. I reiterate my commitment to this bidding process, and I pledge without an iota of doubt, Botswana’s commitment to the course.

hosting AFCON 2027.

In the likely event we are successful in securing the rights to host the AFCON Finals, Namibia will host the Opening Ceremony and Botswana will host the Closing Ceremony and both the arrangement Botswana will host 24 of the 36 group stage matches, whilst Namibia will host 12. Botswana will host 5 of the 8 round of 16 equally between the two countries.

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Dec/ Jan 2023

Letshwiti says to be brutally honest to both two support of the political leadership of the two countries. I would like to take this opportunity to pledge this unconditional support from all levels of the political leadership of Botswana and Namibia.

Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi had a meeting with the CAF President Dr Motsepe on the margins of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit that was held in Botswana in April 2022 and lobbied for his support. Similarly, His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob met with CAF President Dr. Patrice Namibia and lobbied for his support before the Welcome Remarks by BFA President Mr MacLean C. Letshwiti at BONA Launch - Lekidi Football Centre 09 June 2022 BFA President Mclean Letshwiti emphasised that ‘should we become successful in this bid, the legacy that will be inherited by the two nations will be unprecedented. Our two countries will

that must meet and compel to go all out in terms of budgeting, planning and coordination with the Minister together with his colleagues in Government, the business community and the media, to hold each other step by step, to achieve this together. ‘If we have never been united as a people, this is the moment to do so. I guess I am also speaking to my brothers and sisters on the Namibian side’.

‘Bagaetsho, as a word of caution to our esteemed Ministers of Sport here present; this project is a mammoth task that Botswana and Namibia have CAF are that the bidding countries’ governments should seriously commit to underwriting the huge cost of this undertaking, including budgets for the Bidding Process, Infrastructure, and the Committee to be unveiled today is going to have serious work cut out for them. Trust me, its real work ahead’, he concluded.

at the highest level in football and against the development, information technology, sports science and medicine, tourism, economic and social cohesion, job creation, science and technology will be palpable, and indelible’.

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Dec/ Jan 2023

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Dec/ Jan 2023

MEET AND GREET: DR. TSHUBE 1.

I have been awarded amongst others the 2013 IOC Graduate Scholar Award and in a.

Dr. Tshepang Tshube is a Senior Lecturer collaboration with colleagues, the 2017 African Alliance Award. In addition to my academic in the Department of Physical Education, work, I am a member of the Botswana National Health & Recreation at the University of Olympic Committee High-Performance Botswana. Tshube holds a Ph.D. in Sport and Commission. I also provide sports psychology Exercise Psychology from Michigan State University. travel with team Botswana. I accompanied 2.

What is your mandate in UB and team Botswana to the 2016 Olympic Games, national teams?

2018 Commonwealth Games and several a.

My primary mandate at the University Africa Championships. of Botswana is to teach sport and exercise

psychology and also do research on sports related issues. I am an active researcher in Southern Africa published in areas of life skills, mental skills, dual career, coach-athlete relations, and elite athlete retirement transition.

My recent publications include Southern Africa perspectives to coach-athlete relations, Olympians Career Path in Southern Africa, and Cultural Perspectives to Sport Psychology.

3.

What type of outreach do you apply to students and athletes who seek the type of services you can provide? a.

My students are heavily engaged in a

year undergraduate students set up their own volunteer experiences at sporting events/ purpose of this engagement is to have students PERSPECTIVE

Dec / Jan 2023

learn crucial skills such as communication, time a.

I foresee more challenges in the future. management, collaboration, and adaptability.

I am deeply worried about the relationship between the Ministry of Basic Education and the of my students build network and resume from this assignment. Graduate students in this impasse because teachers are core to the development of athletes and sports in the country. platforms. For example, my students and I just hosted a panel discussion on the proposed 10 this issues. If BISA fails to organize and host sports community sports facilities. across the country, we lose a huge number of talented athletes and that kills sports development.

4.

Let’s talk about your overall plan for Sports in the country hence you sometimes Research provide evidence that over 90% of world class athletes are developed in a school set up. If we help at national level. are really committed to athlete development, we a.

My plan and dream about sports in Botswana is to educate through research, 8.

How is your relationship with sports workshops, presentations, seminars and lectures. In my opinion, most of our challenges codes in the country including the teams? a.

I currently enjoy a very positive relationship are due to lack of expertise in a number of areas. For example, our coaches need to be sporting codes. I had the honour to work with a lot well trained in holistic athlete development. of federations including but not limited to BNOC, enough. In addition, our leaders need to know BNSC, BAA, BONA, and BOSA. that sport management and leadership is a 9.

On the international level, do you have science. relations with your counterparts outside the

5.

Mr Tshube you’ve hosted Sports Science and Medicine symposium, what actually prompted you to have this?

a.

I have hosted a number of lectures, workshops and seminars. Note that I have not hosted a sports medicine symposium but generally sport psychology, leadership and athlete development symposiums. As indicated in your previous question, there is need for more knowledge in our sports community. One of the reasons for my seminars is to bridge the gap between academia and practice. Concepts and theories developed in academia need to be tested in applied settings.

6.

From the symposium you touched

management and serious injuries that can through this a.

My seminar did not address these

7.

Future of Sports in the country, how do you see it especially with development structures that we have, do we see more medals in the upcoming global competitions?

the native nations? a.

I have a huge network globally. I have

University of Queensland, Western Kentucky University, University of Ghana, and San José

of Queensland and I were in 2015 funded by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology to conduct workshops in Botswana on life skills and sport psychology. I have just been invited to spend a week as visiting scholar at San José State University. I will give lectures and develop network for further collaborations.

10. Lastly like you mentioned we have facilities but why are the other countries still beating us when it comes to games and your last words please! a.

Facilities are not enough for success at major games. We need clear talent development programs.

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Dec/ Jan 2023

‘Gaborone Meet’ meets expectations year people were determined to attend with the kids especially as it would be last chance to see national treasure Isaac ‘Badman’ Makwala running locally. to announce his retirement plans pointing out that he is not all lost to sport but will be participating mostly abroad as he nears to put down his tools. Makwala

also advices upcoming athletes to care for themselves and protect their images.

(Makwala pictures) even 3 or 4 STATEMENT ON LETSILE TEBOGO’S WORLD U20 RECORD. that the World Athletics has taken a decision not to Ratify Letsile Tebogo’s time of 9.96 as a World Under-20 Record, set in the men’s 100m on the 30th of April 2022, during the Gaborone International Meet Continental Bronze Tour. BAA ascertains that despite the outcome of the World Record, the time remains valid as a National Record, Area 22 World Championships. conducting a zero- gun test during the test of the timing equipment, which is equipment prior to a race. Nonetheless, the zero test was conducted post the event which World Athletics acknowledged and

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Dec/ Jan 2023

appraised. Due to submission post the event, World Athletics could not consider the application.

INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES COMPETE AT THE GABORONE INTERNATIONAL MEET. GIM IS A WORLD CLASS ATHLETICS’ MEET THAT TAKES PLACE IN full responsibility of the outcome.

GABORONE, BOTSWANA. IT WAS First in history for Botswana! Letsile Tebogo RECENTLY AWARDED A BRONZE STATUS BY THE WORLD ATHLETICS MAKING IT THE FIRST OF IT’S KIND 10s for his country, racing to a National Record of 9.96s (+1.9) to win the men’s IN BOTSWANA AND SOUTHERN AFRICA. IT ATTRACTS ATHLETES 100m at the Gaborone International Meet.

Tebogo is now 3rd fastest in the world this FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND STANDS A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF BEING PROMOTED TO A SILVER Championships in Oregon.

STATUS OR BETTER. THE GIM MASTERMIND APPRECIATION POST GLODY DUBE. HE USED TO MAKE PEOPLE COME TO THE STADIUM TO WATCH HIM RUN, NOW HE MAKES PEOPLE COME TO THE STADIUM TO SEE

PERSPECTIVE

Dec/ Jan 2023

Stanbic Bank GOLF DAY

At least 144 golfers graced the inaugural Stanbic Bank Botswana Golf Day as the bank officially launched the newly named Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club (SBGGC). Officiating the event and unveiling the plaque was National Sports Commission Chairman, Mr. Marumo Morule.

After unveiling the official plaque of the Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club Mr. Marumo Morule noted that golf has a new home in Botswana. The beloved Golf Club, now “gone blue” is not only a symbol of the Bank’s unwavering support for growth and nurturing of golf as a sporting fraternity, but of preservation and celebration of treasured community sites in the heart of the city of Gaborone.

The engagement underscored several key aspects close to the Bank’s purpose and vision and was indeed reaffirmed by Stanbic Bank Botswana on the day.

This occasion also marked and symbolised a great many things for Stanbic Bank as a business, and indeed for the community.

Speaking at the launch Stanbic Bank Botswana Chief Executive, Chose Modise said, “We gather here to celebrate and invest in the growth of golf as a sport and as a discipline. The talent in Botswana, amongst both men and women, indeed even amongst our caddy community,

cannot be overlooked. With the requisite support, we can and will grow and nurture this talent, and show that golf is yet another sporting code where Batswana are a force to be reckoned with. The incredible work being done by the Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club Committee is core to this, and to them we owe both a debt of gratitude and a renewed commitment to never let our support wane.”

For his part Mr Morule said the Gaborone Golf Club has always been at the heart of thecommunity, a heritage site where people come together to golf, to enjoy and to simply be together. “Before this sponsorship, the Club was facing many challenges. Due to the pandemic, they had to cut down manpower, put maintenance of key areas on hold, and even scale back or suspend activities due lack of finance and resources. It pleases megreatly to see the funds invested by Stanbic Bank as part of the 3-year sponsorshipagreement to support the club and I thank the bank for their immense contribution”, -Morule said.

STANBIC BANK RENEWS POPA’S SPONSORSHIP Township Rollers scores a whooping P4.5 million Sponsorship windfall from Stanbic Bank Botswana for further three years.

Speaking at the launch, Stanbic Bank Botswana Chief Executive Chose Modise said, “We continue to strengthen mutually beneficial relationships that are also impactful to the communities around us. Our aim is to see Township Rollers FC progress even further in local and African football, developing young talent and contributing towards the growth of the discipline in Botswana.”

In their six-year partnership with Stanbic Bank Botswana, Township Rollers has won the league title three times and became the first local team to reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League. The Bank’s commitment to sports development is evidenced by its active participation and sponsorship in the 41 st Botswana National Sports Commission awards, Diacore Gaborone Marathon, the GM’s Annual Charity CycleChallenge, CANA Zone IV Swimming Championships and Orapa GM’s Walk to mention but a few.

At the sponsorship renewal event, Township Rollers FC President Shah Jagdish, launched the exclusive jersey to be worn by the players at the next match. The president

highlighted that the club has grown both on field and as a business since the formation of the club’s partnership with Stanbic Bank. “It with a great deal of gratitude that I stand here this morning, to thank you for agreeing to continue sponsoring us, despite the challenges that came with the pandemic. We really appreciate this noble gesture and hope that it can grow beyond expectation and extend even further.”, Township Rollers FC President, Mr. Jagdish Shah concluded.

AGEAGE CHEATING CHEATING IN AFRICAN IN AFRICAN SPORTS SPORTS

In the recent months age fraud has manifested of the CAF Medical Committee, and also a itself in CAF’s junior tournaments. In August, member of the FIFA Medical Committee. He says that in the case of Under-17 age cheats: “We know that it is not generally bad intention or purpose if players are biologically above 17 they failed MRI tests. their players failed the test. Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire had one player each sent home. imaging (MRI) was introduced by FIFA in 2009 for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup to help ascertain whether players are over age or not.

MRI is considered to be 99% accurate until the medical professionals to calculate a person’s age.

But what prompts age cheating?

In some cases it’s never really the fault of the player. Dr Yacine Zerguini is the vice president

“But

age cheating is killing African football. Egyptian Football Association

Shalaby likens age fraud to a cancer in African football.”

PERSPECTIVE

Dec/ Jan 2023

inaccurate or even not available, without that being the fault of the player or the association.” asked to do independent MRI scans for age tests, before CAF conducts its tests before a tournament and still, overage players get busted. various associations and the ministries have acknowledged that they have at times deliberately created ‘football ages’, so that older players are still eligible for the U-20 and U-17 teams.

Football administrators believe age cheating game in Africa. Clubs and footballers’ agents have been accused of encouraging players alter their age so that it becomes less hard to obtain contracts with European clubs looking out for young talents.

But age cheating is killing African football.

Medhat Shalaby likens age fraud to a cancer in African football. He argues that age fraud is a counterproductive practice, to which he is right.

Age cheating is destroying football development in Africa. It makes tournaments useless because

some players must not be playing because they are too old. What is the point of a 17-year-old competing in a tournament where the opposing team has players way over that age group? we gradually lose credence. Our football stars become subject to unfair scrutiny and taunts. players abroad.

It still is fresh to recall the age saga that broiled across Europe concerning African stars like Nwankwo Kanu, Obafemi Martins, Julius Aghahowa and not forgetting the scandal involving Samuel Eto’o and the then coach at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho who claimed that the Cameroonian is older than what he says he is.

Ultimately, Africa needs to start playing clean! women football team coach Jacqueline Shipanga. Our national football associations call to all the federations around the continent then, this menace will live on and African teams will remain less productive and too mediocre to challenge other countries in the World Cup.

MINALA’S CLAIMS TO BE BORN IN 1996, SOME CLAIM HE IS IN HIS LATE 40s PERSPECTIVE

Dec/ Jan 2023

SPORTING CODES UNIONS SHOULD BE FORMED TO WORK AT LEVEL OF THE PLAYING FIELD bosses, tough expectations and unbalanced sports makes one wonder if the wages. sportspersons themselves are too scared or Non-unionized athletes were treated as pieces threatened to protect their liveli hood and of furniture to be moved at the owner’s whim their professions. as they had no rights to pensions, healthcare Football players have been blocked by teams to go outside the country. We have Today’s pro athletes enjoy all these perks, had top boxers in Lesley Sekotswe, the while conducting salaries that eliminate the need for any of them. In the case of the following leagues, it took the resolution of a In football we have retired players who few brave players to stand up to the owners plied their trade outside in professional and demand a fair share of the revenues that who were actually on BNSC scholarships. initiate a movement for the formation of sports unions.

In most cases, labour unions are born out of unfair working conditions and inadequate wages for employees. Given forgotten that the pioneers of our favourite sports leagues were victims of harsh

who played without pensions or healthcare plans.

It was also common for pre-union players to work permanent jobs to support their families because if you get an injury or a player miss game, it was very rare to be taken care of and get paid during the time of absence, ostenably brought about by an injury incured while on

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Dec/ Jan 2023

Without healthcare plan and no income, families of athletes struggle mightily to pay

With players taking action, the fans will be

that can spoil a sport. Before these players’ union, players were in most cases not paid for missing a game with an injury. Players play” and cut the salary. are responsible for maintaining their uniforms and equipment, and they do not Such treatment should inspire all the legends receive any money when traveling. to rally today’s players to form a union Players across the leagues who should get on board, including legends such as Dipsy ex-players across the leagues should be Selolwane, Khubamang, Amantle Montsho successful in creating a small association of players so that the players can be able to unite players will successfully invigorate the in enough numbers to convince the owners leagues to address their grievances, as well to recognize their demands and not punish players for being members. a pension plan.

With athletes becoming professional much earlier, it is important that those older players contest for their powerful millionaire bosses on the road to retirement have a proper and risk their professional careers to ensure pension. that future players in these leagues would Big leagues boast some of the largest salaries be well compensated and cared for beyond in all of sports, with the biggest purse their playing careers. being that of US Middleweight champion, Floyd Mayweather whose bout with Manny Pacquiao who grossed in the region of $300 Sport has long been a big business in the world and it can only take many manifestations of the Players Association to get a fair portion of the revenue paid to the players.

Starting with the brotherhood of Professional players, players should organize to increase their salaries and, most importantly, end the reserve clause that essentially gives owners the right to control where players could play. of speculation in livestock, by which they are bought, sold and transferred like so many sheep.

Technically, there isn’t actually a union for players at the moment, as on the surface, it is share of thousands in revenue.

PERSPECTIVE

Dec/ Jan 2023

Silvio Gazzaniga

The Man Who Made the World Cup Trophy In 1971, the organizers of the World Cup found themselves without a cup to call their own. The year before, Pelé’s Brazil had won the tournament for the third time, which meant they got to keep the trophy. As Brazil’s captain, Carlos Alberto, held the trophy aloft on a blazing hot day in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, there was a sense that the title, previously kept by the winning team for the four years in between tournaments, really was coming home.

That trophy — a fourteen-inch high, gold-plated sculpture of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, hoisting an octagonal cup above her

head — was named after Jules Rimet, a former president of FIFA, soccer’s governing body. It was first presented to Uruguay, in 1930. Won by Italy in 1934 and ’38, it spent World War II hidden in a shoebox to prevent the Nazis from taking it. In 1966 it was stolen from a public exhibition in Westminster, only to be recovered by a curious dog named Pickles, who found it wrapped in newspaper and stashed under a hedge outside his owner’s home. The trophy was stolen again in 1983, from the offices of the Brazilian Football Confederation, and never recovered.

With its new trophy, FIFA decided not to go in-house with the design process, soliciting fifty-three submissions from seven countries. One

came from a quiet, private sculptor from Milan named Silvio Gazzaniga, a fifty-year-old who had spent his life creating symbols of other people’s success. Gazzaniga grew up during World War II and spent his youth admiring fine jewelry and the architecture of Milan. He designed his first medal as a teenager, and spent the next three decades working on jewels and skiing trophies, finally rising to creative director at Milanese trophy design firm Bertoni. It was there he learned of FIFA’s search for a new trophy. Interviewed last month through a translator, Gazzaniga, now ninety-three and still living in Milan, reminisced about the competition.

“I closeted myself away in my studio, situated in the artists’ quarters of Milan,” he says.

“I began work immediately.”

Tucked away for a week, Gazzaniga, in his modest-sized studio near Sforza Castle, etched and molded as the ideas flowed.

Gazzaniga, a soccer fan who, perhaps unsurprisingly, supports AC Milan, said that he was aware of the history and significance of the previous trophy.

“The Rimet Trophy was a perfect example of the end of the 1800s way to conceive a cup,” he says. “My design was a good example of the end of the 1900s way to conceive a trophy.

“FIFA approached the old trophy as a precious jewel,” he continued. “The Rimet Trophy was a jewel, but, in 1971, FIFA was aware of the era of television and they were looking for something more photogenic, soft and good-looking on TV — a new symbol updated for the end of century…a precious sculpture, not a squared jewel.”

And so Gazzaniga set out to make something a little more flowing than the rigid old trophy. Aesthetic pleasure overcame everything else as he molded a wide base that narrowed before shooting out again, where its lines sprung upwards, spiraling, to receive the world that sat at its top. The World Cup. Shaped into these lines would be “a human being — the hero — but not alone, because the game and every match is done by two teams, two wills opposing and acting together,” Gazzaniga says. “Energy, force, strength, dynamism, roughness, agility, speed, success, achievement, victory, triumph. All this had to turn around and embrace the world, who is over all and over every single man.”

Happy with his mold and sketches, Gazzaniga submitted his design to FIFA. In the age before email, it would be months before he heard anything.

“I was proud of my design and was happy with the result,” he says, “but I honestly did not expect such a success.”

After months of suspense, a message came from FIFA: His design had been chosen.

Compared to the bland silver cups given as prizes for most European football competitions, Gazzaniga’s design was flamboyant, an irresistible representation of exaltation and joy. What’s more, it would undoubtedly look mighty and appealing on TV — the champion’s hands wrapped around the contesting opponents; the sun’s light shimmering off the curvature of the globe.

Modest and down-to-earth, the designer describes his emotions at the time as nothing more than “happy” and “proud,” but admits that he was a little overwhelmed when he saw his trophy on the world’s stage for the first time, in 1974.

“The first time is everything, for me,” he said, reminiscing about the sight of the West German captain Franz Beckenbauer collecting his trophy. “The One.” Since that moment, the trophy has been lifted by some of the greatest players ever to play the game, from Maradona to Zidane.

GOLF IN BOTSWANA NEEDS ITS OWN ASAFA POWELL AND SE-RI PAK MOMENTS AND EFFECTS…. golf courses until they are of certain competence. Most golf is therefore played in Driving Ranges. If you think golf is expensive in Botswana and access to golf courses in Botswana go to Asia…

You will come back with a different perspective…What continue to bother me is lack of traction of the sport of golf in Botswana. Why are we not getting a lot of Batswana getting into the sport?

ARTICLE BY: This brings me to another MPHO KELOSIWANG inspirational story in sport…

Most people now know A story is told of a young that….Sprinting to Jamaican South Korean golfer, who is like religion…The story moved to the US as a 20-year- about Jamaicans become old with no English, no family sprint Kings and Queens is and no friends, just a dream however not known by most. to become the best golfer in Indulge me for a moment to the world…my emphasis! narrate the little I know about She Won the US Women the evolution of Jamaica short Open Golf Championship in distance running…Prior to 1998 and sparked the Asian 1999, Jamaica had pockets Women Golf revolution. of brilliance in track and Today Asian women dominate the professional ladies golf circuit. Since 2008, nearly 40% of the major championships on the LPGA Tour have been won by South Koreans. While Asian girls, account for 54% of the top 100 in the Rolex Ranking Women’s World Golf Ranking, 70% of those are South Korean. It is interesting to note that in Asia it is quite expensive to play. Korea is no different and most of their players are not allowed in

field. However the revolution can be traced back to 1999, when Coach Stephen Francis, together with his brother, Paul and cousin, decided to form the MVP Track and Field Club of Jamaica. They had an ambitious dream, to have Jamaican sprint champions, trained in Jamaica, by Jamaicans and managed by Jamaican. The club aimed to provide high quality coaching which mirrored American college system so that talented athletes would not have to travel to the USA. Of Course people laughed at them, called them dangerously ambitious.

Rasmus Ankersen in his book, “The Gold Mine Effect” details how the MVP Track and field coaches used to beg for high school student coaching gigs.

Simply because people did not believe in the possibility that Jamaican sprint athletes, can be developed in Jamaica

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by Jamaicans. Of course, fortune smiled on them, when one of their athlete Asafa Powell, who by the way, was a reject of the athletic programme, broke the 100 metres world record in 2001. The Asafa Powell moment gave the MVP Track and Field Club of Jamaica their break through. This bold and ambitious step reversed a long-standing pattern, where Jamaican sprinters, who were typically poor, ran to get scholarships at American colleges where facilities and coaching were superior, but the surroundings were foreign. Now, with better coaches, most of the country’s Olympic runners train at home and they are champions. As most athlete now understand, staying and training at home can make a difference, in terms of the weather and the support structure. In the case of Jamaica, it appear that coaching, motivation, and hard work might have done the trick.

and Field Club of Jamaican or are our young golfers not hungry enough…The case of South Korean and Jamaica rhyme well with the findings of Angela Lee Duckworth study of successful people…She found that, ”People who accomplish great things, usually combine a passion for a single mission with a unswerving dedication to achieve it, regardless of obstacles and the length of time it take.” Are we a nation of excuses… both at administrators and athletes level…Do we know how to create success and we stumble upon it? Are our athletes hungry enough?

Rasmus Ankersen will ask, “How do you create hunger in Paradise?” It is my opinion that, if we can correctly answer this question we will be on the right track to unlocking the potential of sport in the country, create world beaters and make sport an alternative source of employment for most of Batswana youth…I know we want to create Millionaires…Sport is one of the ways we can create young Millionaires…

I hardly share my stories and experience Here at home, we continue to provide excuses coaching some of the youngsters I work with on why we cannot be successful in golf… as I consider these to be private moments, I fair enough, the game suffers lack of access however sought permission to share this one to the school sport system and inaccessibility from Tharaniitharan Panchalingam…Tharan of the golf clubs to most Batswana Children. is going for college in the US next month, he However, South Korea has been able to has an ambition of making the college golf overcome these seemingly insurmountable team…I started coaching Tharan in 2013, he constraints…Is it because we lack the was a beginner golfer…However he was athlete ambitions of the founders of the MVP Track through and through and according to my PERSPECTIVE

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observation he had great chance of making his dream a reality. Within two years Tharan had dropped his Handicap from 24 to 3, He was now among the top golfers in the country…

Pity he travels on a Sri Lankan Passport otherwise he will have made the Botswana Junior team…However something happened, the relationship broke and Tharan went on his own in the last two years of so…Guess what…He is still playing of handicap 3 and he swing the club like an Octopus…We recently rekindle our coach-athlete relationship, with the sole goal of ensuring that he makes the college team. I am confident he will make it as he has great potential. Why am I boring you with such feeble tales…

The legendary Jack Nicklaus is reported to have said, “If you can beat everyone in your town, everyone in your city, everyone in your state, everyone on an a national level, you’re probably good enough to turn pro”.

Under normal circumstances the above detail the progressive step, however there is one fundamental assumption…that every stage there is good quality competition… what if there is nobody to beat…how do you escape an environment that is designed to perpetuate mediocrity? how do you motivate and guide junior golfers to aspire to be world beaters, when all they see glorified and supported by sponsors is the old men and women,

who play the game for fun. Where we confuse social sports for elite competitive sport. For a moment, Tharan lost sight of why he played golf, he got caught up in the funk, all of a sudden he could compete and beat his peers and he thought he had arrived…He is one of the best ball strikers in the country. He failed to recognise the difference between our standards and international standards. With the advent of google and abundance of information about the golf swing, he thought he could self-coach…

There is only one elite golfer who self-coach…

Bubba Watson, he is an exception and not the norm…The danger of such…Is an Octopus swing, frustration and ultimately youngsters quitting the games.

As I have indicated above, it is my view that we can achieve success in golf in Botswana in the next 10 years. We already have pockets of brilliance, we have the infrastructure, both physical and coaching and this therefore provide the minimum requirement for such success. What we need now is our Osafa Powell or Se-ri Pak moment…This will rely on the golf union, golf clubs and coaches demonstrating a strong sense of determination to achieve success as they say, “talent flocks to organisation that project a strong sense of purpose”. However the overriding factor for success is the burning desire of the athlete…Those who want it most…

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SPORTS TOURISM, WHAT IS IT?

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any people wonder what sports tourism is.

Sports tourism is traveling from one region, country, state, etc. to another in order to watch a sports competition or game. For a very long time we have Toyota Desert Race which by far is the most attended sporting tourism event as it attracts big brands and faces from across our borders.

There is also Makgadikgadi Epics, Cycling Challenges, Rasesa Airshow and even golf tournaments. It is endless but

most certainly have. Due to the availability of buying sports tickets online through various admissions sites, people now have access to multiple resources that were not available a decade ago. People are also more aware of when and where the games what is Sports tourism? and competitions will take place While sports tourism has not in advance, so they are more always been extremely popular, able to prepare for the cost and during the recent decade the time that is needed to be able amount of people attending to attend the events. Sports out of area sporting events has tourism has not only managed to drastically increased. People are find a place in the technological now traveling far and wide just industry, but it has increased to attend their favorite events, because of it. and it is no wonder as to what Tourism Consumers has encouraged the sudden spike The types of sports tourism in popularity. consumers vary from sport to Technology is Key sport. The most generalized While the technological advances statistics are that most sports in recent years may not have tourists are males between the appeared to make a huge impact ages of 18 and 34, and they are on the sport industry, they in the middle-class economic

groups. Delving deeper into the study will help to get a more accurate statistical rank on class, status and age. For example, cricket and rugby fans are generally older and have more disposable income than basic football and basketball fans. While different sports have different sports tourism consumers, all sports have taken a popularity increase in recent years.

short the trip is does not define

factor is whether or not the person is traveling to see a sports competition or traveling with another agenda While sports tourism has gained popularity in recent years, one must stop and consider what it really is and why it has become so popular among the sports fan crowds. Not only has it managed to steadily increase each year, but it has also taken Sports tourism is not difficult a spot among the top reasons to figure out. Sports tourism is for traveling and vacationing. the act of traveling from one It appears as though more and location to another with the goal more people are using their of being an audience member to well-earned vacations to see a sports competition of any kind. their favorite players in action.

For example, one who travels So, what is sports tourism? from Chicago to Houston with It is simply a means to see the goal of seeing the Houston a competition up close and personal at a location that is not Texans play is considered a sports tourist. However long or considered home.

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