Africa-Press – Botswana. Netball clubs have been urged to act professionally and follow procedure in recruitment of players.
Botswana Netball Association (BoNA) president, Malebo Raditladi-Nkgakile said unscrupulous processes used in recruiting players were a thorny issue in the administration of netball in the country.
Addressing BoNA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Gaborone on Saturday, Raditladi-Nkgakile said while some clubs invest in developing players, others were masters in poaching of such talent, resulting in misunderstandings between players and in some instances resulting in exploitation of players.
She said teams that used resources in developing players must get something in return when such players move to other clubs.
“Register and transfer players accordingly.
Engage safe guarding measures to manage movement of players,” said Raditladi-Nkgakile.
In an effort to encourage the development of netball from grassroots level, Raditladi-Nkgakile advised netball clubs across the country to focus in developing young talent.
“Focus on forming development structures.
Adopt schools and develop sporting codes,” she said.
The clubs were also encouraged to remain active by organising tournaments.
Taking the AGM through the helm of BoNA, she said despite the challenges that emanated from COVID-19, they managed to prevail and resuscitate the code.
She said with the support of zone leadership, BoNA sinking boat was able to gain the much-needed enthusiasm and float again against the strong waves, adding that zonal leadership was the pillar and arms of the association.
Members of BoNA structures were urged to serve, share and impart their skills on others rather than focus on personal development.
“Bring change and encourage the young to join sport.
I believe my committee was focused on what it was intending to do to grow netball,” she said.
To date, Raditladi-Nkgakile said 16 clubs were registered and compliant with the Registrar of Societies and BoNA requirements.
“As BoNA associates focus is on growing netball, paying full subscription and keeping membership active as well as continuing to recruit new players,” she said.
She said through the support of sponsors such as SPAR and Lucara mine, netball was given a lifeline.
Raditladi–Nkgakile was also concerned about the health and fitness of players and therefore appealed to clubs to engage qualified medical personnel to take care of players’ health.
She said the aftermaths of COVID-19 had left some with health complications.
“As we strive for professionalism we must be concerned about the health of our players and ensure that we do not violate anti-doping regulations.
She said it was important for clubs to prioritise welfare of players and how the netball could positively impact on the lives of the society.
Raditladi-Nkgakile said sport must be part and parcel of the community, as such netball administrators must establish how the sporting code could bring postive change to the lives of the people.
“You must be agents of change in the society,” she said.
The growth of BoNA, she said, to some extent were hindered by some individuals who were holding positions for personal gain and hardly bowed to views of those that they deemed lesser regardless of them advocating for positive change.
“Have the will to learn from other people, and even those you have labelled as the least important, whether as a result of their social status or just hatred resulting from personal vendettas.
We get reports that BoNA was overwhelmed by issues of emotional abuse,” she said.
She said netball was a sport dominated by women, therefore its management must prove that indeed women were nation builders and were naturally designed to build not to break the society.
The AGM also conducted elections for the position of vice president technical and secretary general.
The position of vice president technical was won by Onkabetse Kesekang with 10 votes while Oteng Benjamin Masole got two.
The AGM also voted Thulaganyo Retshabile as the secretary general after receiving eight votes while the duo of Mmaneke Maplanka and Kereemang Montwedi received two votes each.
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