The media practitioners in the country have been urged to be responsible in their reporting.
Speaking recently at the 30th Sports Awards nominees’ launch, Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Executive Secretary, Kitso Kemoeng, urged reporters to be sensitive and responsible in their reporting as they are the most important stake holders in the development of sports.
“My humble plea to you is to be factual in your writing. Some of your stories are sensationalistic and devoid of facts,” he said.
Kemoeng said that the media should note that they are building athletes and using rough language when reporting on the young people does not build them but destroys.
Citing the example from a local newspaper headline that read “Kgosiemang tumbles”, Kemoeng explained that it was very unfortunate and harsh on someone who was appearing on the world stage for the country.
“What I am asking you is that you be sensitive in your reporting. Whichever way we look at it, the media remains an important component of the development of this country, be it through sport, or through any other economic sector,” he added.
On the other hand, Kemoeng noted that as they approach the BNSC awards it would be great to note that the Annual Sports Awards are now a partnership job between the Department of Broadcasting services (DBS) and BNSC, a partnership that is going through its second of the five year term.
The General Manager of Botswana Television, Molefe Sejoe, added that indeed this would be the second year of their five-year partnership with BNSC.
“As the awards are getting better and better every year, it would be great to announce that this year, the awards would also be broadcast live on the radio (RB2)”, he said.
He noted that this shows that the event is growing every year.
As has come to be tradition, attendants were reminded that the event is a black tie event without exception.
“All VIPs, invitees, nominees, members of the press and anybody else who will be present live at the event will be expected to honour this requirement. As has been the case in the past, anybody who does not conform will be sent back at the first point of entry at the GICC, irrespective of how much they have paid to be part of the event,” warned Kemoeng.
In addition, the 30th BNSC annual sports awards finalists, based on the 2009 performance, are as follows:
Junior male sport person are: Oteng Oteng (BOBA), Pako Seribe (BAA) and Boitumelo Koone of BOKA; whilst junior female sports person nominees are: Tiroyaone Kapeko (BJF), Rejoice Mothibi (BOKA) and Oarabile Babolai (BAA).
Sportsman of the Year finalists are:
Mmoloki Nogeng (BOBA), Gable Garenamotse (BAA) and Vikishikhali Majama (BOKA); while Sportswoman of the Year will be contested by Bathami Ikhutseng (BOKA), Ogone Gabaratane (BONA) and Amantle Montsho (BAA).
Other finalists include Team of the Year; junior team (4 by 400m) – BAA, team KATA (BOKA) and Kutlwano ladies team (BVF), Administrator of the Year, Tebogo Lebotse (BONA), Moses Bantsi (BAA) and Tsoseletso Magang of BVF.
Other categories include Coach of the Year (BAA, BOBA and BVF), umpire/referee of the year, best executed plan (BVF, BRU and BOBA), Non citizen administrator (Girish Ramakrishna- BCA, Dele Akapta- BOTESSA and Estony Hattingh- BJF); Code of the Year (BONA, BSA, and BAA), and Group Code of the Year (Special Olympics, BOPSSA and BOTESSA).
