Like the one before it, the new executive committee of Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) is finding it hard to secure sponsors to run its affairs, The Business Weekly Sports can reveal.
The Tsoseletso Magang-led committee was ushered into office in early April on the strength of securing sponsorship for the BVF national league within its first 100 days in office. “We do not want six months to pass without us having begun the league and are hopeful that this is something that we can succeed at,” Magang told this publication then.
But more than 100 days have gone and sponsors are proving elusive for the new team? “What we meant at that time is that within those 100 days we would engage potential sponsors, not only for the national league but for our developmental programmes and other affairs as well,” Magang said this week. However, she added, it often proved difficult to do so in the first 100 days. “That is because we found our time being totally taken by the return-to-play tournament which we found running and had to conclude it,” she disclosed. “There was also the Zone 6 Beach Volleyball tournament that we hosted which was unplanned for. That also took our time because we had to begin its preparations from scratch and I am proud to say it was a success.”
A former volleyball player herself with a telling nickname of Scud, Magang emphasised the importance of having sponsors and running a league. “Having financial sponsors cannot be overemphasised but the subvention that we received from the government is far too insufficient and cannot take us far,” she said. “We are quarter way into the year and are well over half of what was allocated to us. That is why it is important for us to go out there and find people who can support our code in all ways.” Regarding the national league, she underscored the importance for BVF to have it and its critical role in the development process. “It is through the league that coaches develop their players,” Magang said.
“The league is played over a long period of time, and that gives coaches an opportunity to try out new players and playing formats.” The BVF national league has not taken place for more than 32 months, the last league game having been played in the last quarter of 2018 under a Mascom Wireless sponsorship that was not renewed. BVF cup competitions are in the same situation of no one coming forward with sponsorship, JB Sports being the last entity to sponsor tournaments.
