Metropolitan Botswana on Thursday 22nd August 2013 received an accolade from the Botswana Nation Sports Council (BNSC) for Patronage to Sport in 2013. The award was presented as part of the BNSC Sponsors’ Day at the Phakalane Golf Estate, as part of an effort to show recognition for private sector corporations who show an increased investment and dedication towards growing the local sports culture.
The award is the 7th of its kind received by Metropolitan Botswana in recognition of Metropolitan’s long standing reputation for working towards the growth of sport in Botswana, and particularly that of sport amongst youth. Key to Metropolitan’s sporting investments is that of the Metropolitan Chess Championships, now in its 6th year.
The 2013 Metropolitan Championships proved highly successful, having unearthed great talents such as Thabo Olebile who went on to win most of his games against Botswana’s top players and heralding victors such as Ignatious Njodvo and Boikhutso Mudongo.
Metropolitan Botswana Marketing and Communications Executive, One Oreeng, testified to the company’s commitment to growing and supporting Batswana in sport. “Metropolitan Botswana has a long history of working to develop the sport space in Botswana.
Our CSI policy is one we adhere to with great dedication and it is more than simply a necessary corporate initiative: this is an area we’re incredibly passionate about. We continue to support organisations such as the Botswana Chess Federation to effect the growth of a strong competitive chess culture, an often overlooked sport that evidences such potential and talent within our community.”
Speaking at the calendar event, BNSC Chairperson, Mr. Solly Reikeletseng, commended the private sector for helping develop young Batswana’s sporting skills to a level that now sees them competing internationally. He noted that, during 2012 alone, local sponsors directed P25,814,322.72 into sport, with Government having injected no less that P60 million. The BNSC Sponsors’ Day is an annual event.
“We’ve been in Botswana for 16 years now and in that time Batswana have shown so much support for us as a business. In return, we constantly strive to find ways to invest back into our country, and our CSI efforts are a great part of that, particularly in the arts, culture and sporting spaces. We are pleased by how much we were able to do in the past year and look forward to continuing with that momentum moving forward,” concluded Oreeng.
