Following a jam-packed and successful 2019 sports calendar, the newbies of the international university sport movement – Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association (BOTESSA) – are set for better things in the future.
Future FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy participant Kabelo Seleka met the BOTESSA President Keorapetswe Setlhare to find out more about the organization that became a member of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) just a year earlier.
“In 2020 and beyond, BOTESSA will focus on forming the Executive Committee and draw up a new blueprint,” President Keorapetswe Setlhare said to Kabelo Seleka.
The tertiary sports authority has 33 member universities and they also engage with the Student Representative Council (SRC) in an effort to drive activations and participation.
“We work with our ambassadors, media committee and the SRC to promote the organization,” said Setlhare. “Additionally, we frequently host SRC retreats in order to influence university managements to affiliate with BOTESSA.”
BOTESSA has also set up a Women Sports Commission led by the Vice-Secretary General, to address issues of gender equality.
“Our plan is to have more participation from both genders, but more so from women in all our structures and events,” explained Setlhare. “As we revise our strategic plan, we will also ensure more women in our leadership stuctures.”
In November this year, the association will host a Womens’ Sports Conference.
Among other initiatives, BOTESSA has plans to host a para-sports event, following a directive from one of its main sponsors. The idea to include student athletes with disabilities has been welcomed by all.
“We will engage special needs officers from different institutions to identify students who will participate in a para sports day,” said Setlhare.
According to the President, the best event hosted by BOTESSA was a sports awards night hosted in 2019. Selthare also mentions participation in the Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade as another highlight.
Looking ahead, the biggest anticipated event in 2020 is a marathon.
“The idea of the BOTESSA Marathon is to prepare our athletes for FISU or FASU international events,” Setlhare elaborated.
While there is no dearth of talent in the country, Setlhare said that student athletes ought to be protected by sports leaders and authorities.
“Within the next two years, we plan to provide scholarships,” said Setlhare. “For instance, we have athletes that do not progress to university and we want to be able to help them.”
BOTESSA was founded by former Botswana Athletics Association (BBA) Presidents Thari Mooketsi and Moses Bnntsi around 1984. Back then, it was known as the Premier League and the name was later changed to BOTESSA in 2005.