Following the impressive performance of the national team, the Zebras, two big companies have donated a total of P100 000.
Diamond company, Debswana, and mortgage bank, Botswana Building Society (BBS), each donated P50 000 and the money will be used as incentives for the team.
Debswana donated on Thursday while BBS did the same the following day.
The BBS donation was, however, conditional since they would only get it if they won yesterday’s match against Togo.
The Managing Director of Debswana, Blackie Marole, revealed that the intention behind the donation was to demonstrate Debswana’s support of the national team.
Marole said that a lot of the current crop of national team players represented a Debswana harvest of sorts since the company provided very extensive financial support for the Under 23 National team back in 1997. “We are here to encourage you to make us proud and re-write the football history books by reaching the finals of the African Cup of Nations in 2012.You have already demonstrated your strength and potential by beating favourites like Tunisia and Malawi,” said Marole.
He added that one of Debswana’s focus areas in its Corporate Social Investment Programme is the area of Sports Development.
The company has developed sporting facilities at Orapa and Letlhakane mines and at Jwaneng as part of its contribution to the development of sports locally. Debswana is also currently the chief sponsor of the ‘Re ba bona ha’ development programme, a programme which focuses on developing a variety of sporting codes across the country, football included. To add to its list of sports development initiatives, Debswana has over the years sponsored the BFA with about P1.5 million for the Under 15 football development programme.
It also provided training facilities to the BFA in Orapa and Letlhakane mines for the School of Excellence programme.
“We all see a new determination and hunger for success from this current crop of players and it is our duty as citizens and patriots to rally behind them,” said Marole.
On the other hand, head of corporate affairs for BBS, Sipho Showa, emphasized that their donation to the team was motivated by the impressive recent run of the team.
He said the money should further motivate the players in their upcoming matches.
