Moses Bantsi has made a comeback as president of the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), taking over from Paphane Botlhale. The outgoing Botlhale served only one term.

The new leader won a tightly contested race over the weekend, with the first round of voting ending with a tie, 12 votes each.

Affiliates had to go for a second round of voting where Bantsi emerged victorious with a single vote, ending the stalemate at 13-12. Oabona Theetso retained his position as vice president-administration, beating the challenger, Major Edward Joseph by 16 votes to eight, with one spoilt vote.

Kenneth Kikwe emerged victorious over the incumbent, Kevin Kelaotswe for the position of vice president-sport development. Kikwe secured 13 votes, Kelaotswe (8) while Kebaitse settled for three votes.

Raymond Phale remains the vice president-finance and administration without any challenger. Speaking to Sport Monitor, Bantsi said he was humbled by the support he received during his campaign and being given a chance to lead athletes for the next four years.

He said it was a tight contest but at the end of the day, affiliates decided who they wanted for the position.

“Now the real job begins, we are taking athletics where it belongs, at the top.

We have to get structures in place, have standing committees, assure the World Athletics that procedures will be followed,” he said.

The new president said out of school camps will be revived and see how they can bridge the gap that is left by school sports and mostly utilise expertise that they have for betterment of sport. “Well normally I am at easy in any elections as I know you enter to either be a victor or not and what was positive was the spoilt vote was supposed to be my vote only that it was ticked on my name rather than on the box,” Bantsi said. In the other positions, Doctor Eric Mandawu lost his position of chairperson, South Central region by eight votes to 16 of Tebatso Omphithetse.

Keamogetse Rancholo emerged victorious for the position of Southern region with eight votes against Philander Villander, Ontshedile Ramatshogwana and Kago Tladinyana. Veteran athletics official, Moses Raphutshe lost the position of chairperson-Central region to Mpho Bagwasi with a huge margin of 21 to eight. Isaac Mbise is the new chairperson for Northern region.

Now the real job begins, we are taking athletics where it belongs, at the top. We have to get structures in place, have standing

committees