- Leading diamond company has spent over P40m on local sports over the past five years
- Orange, FNBB, Afroworld Impex, DTCB, Lactilis, O3 Beverages, Metropolitan also honoured
- Others were Absa, Ba Isago, Chinese Embassy, Umbro, Nike, Phoenix, Lucara and Botswana Ash
GAZETTE REPORTER
In an event held on Friday night, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) bestowed the prestigious Platinum Award upon the Debswana Diamond Company for its support for the country’s sporting community.
Serving as the governing body for all sporting disciplines in the nation, BNSC used the occasion to commend and recognise the exceptional contributions made by both the business community and individuals to the advancement of sports in Botswana throughout the 2021-2022 financial year.
The celebratory week kicked off with the BNSC Golf Day in Gaborone on Thursday followed by the Appreciation Dinner held at the National Stadium on Friday night where the sponsors were acknowledged for their unwavering support for sports in Botswana.
Opportune time
The Managing Director of Debswana, Andrew Motsomi, expressed the significance of the BNSC Annual Sponsor’s Night when he stated: “The BNSC Annual Sponsor’s Night comes at an opportune time when the total spend for sponsorship is dwindling globally as a result of companies implementing major cost-cutting measures.
“These reforms are necessitated by the devastating effects of COVID-19, current geopolitical challenges and elevated inflation.”
He urged BNSC to pioneer innovative and sustainable methods of commercialising sports in Botswana and highlighted the commitment of Debswana to sports development.
“Debswana is unparalleled in its commitment to sports development, having spent over P40 million in various sporting codes over the past five years,” Motsomi said.
Growth of sports
The event also saw recognition of several other sponsors that have each contributed significantly to the growth of sports in Botswana.
These included, in no particular order, Orange Botswana, First National Bank (FNB), Afroworld Impex, DTCB, Lactilis Botswana, O3 Beverages, Metropolitan, Absa, Ba Isago University, the Chinese Embassy, Umbro, Nike, Phoenix Assurance, Lucara, and Botswana Ash.