In an endeavour to spread the popularity of the sport of rugby in country, the Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) has launched its own website to bring the sport to the people.
The new website, which was unveiled to the media this past Thursday, is expected to be fully operational before the league starts next season. The launch of the website means the sport now joins a number of local sporting codes who have now taken to cyberspace to interact with its stakeholders as well as the general public.
Speaking at the launch of the website, BRU president Bob Lekan said the union found it fitting to launch its own website to give Batswana and the international community to read about the development of the sport in the country. He said the website, which took at least three months to build, will be very useful as the association seeks to build and increase the popularity of the sport in the country.
According to Lekan, the website was built for free by Nako Solutions as a donation and sponsorship to the association.
Presenting the website to the members of the media, Kealeboga Charles, a member of the BRU staff who is working with Nako Solutions in building the website, said the building of the website has been a very challenging job. He informed the media that despite being launched, the website is not yet fully complete, adding that the intention was to launch it so that they can advise them on what should have been put into the site but has been left behind. Taking the media through a virtual tour of the newly built website, Charles explained that the website is expected to give its visitors all the necessary information regarding rugby in the country.
The website is expected to give visitors the history of rugby in Botswana, its executive committee as well as information regarding the national teams as well as the profiles of national team players.
The website will also feature club rugby with every club affiliated to the BRU expected to be profiled. It will also provide fixtures and detailed results for club rugby competitions.
Commenting on the latest development at BRU, members of the media congratulated the BRU for launching the website saying this shows intent by the union to take the sport to the people. They also expressed happiness with the general outlook of the website saying it is simple to the eye but very informative at the same time.
They, however, expressed concern at the number of websites launched by sporting codes in the country which are now obsolete as they have now been completely ignored and are not updated. They pointed out that the sporting websites in the country seem to function only for a couple of weeks after being launched but are then abandoned or, in some instances, not even updated. The media also called upon the BRU to use the website to advertise and sell its merchandise as well as to seek adverts from private companies as a way of generating income for the union.
In his closing remarks, national team player Lesedi Keekae expressed pleasure at the launch of the site saying it provides ‘endless growth opportunities for rugby, both financially and in popularity.’
He says with the club links also included, the benefits will spread to club rugby, adding that the impetus is on clubs to provide necessary information and help to make the site a success.
