Volume 50 Issue 8 - August 2012 : Sports

When KK quit his plum BNSC post, many people expected him to say “something” about his sudden decision to part ways with something that had now come to be identified with. He had found a permanent home in sport. Little wonder, then that when he resigned as BNSC chief executive secretary, some were shocked, and threw about unlimited perceptions.

Neither was it a wonder that he told journalists during a media briefing that he had no choice but to go. “They were six and I was alone, so under such circumstances common sense dictates that the party with one person has to leave and I left in the interest of Botswana sport.” That was in February and certainly for a man of KK stature ,who had reached the greatest heights of sport management in the country, that he should say a mouthful about his sudden departure amounted to more than legitimate expectations.

Although headlines regarding his relationship with some of his colleagues screamed loud, fast forward to now and KK still maintains the diplomacy of a national leader who would rather highlight that there was no compatibility between him and the board. However, he hopes his departure will not destabilise governance structures that had been set up though he feels they can be improved. Now, whether he was pushed or resigned voluntarily to venture into new areas of life is besides the point. Instead, KK prefers to talk about what has been achieved and focusing on the current and future. “We have gone far in various disciplines by ensuring that affiliates follow their development programmes,” he says, emphasising the “we” to show that it was a collective effort.

Consequently, he is quick to credit Botswana National Olympics Committee for their role towards producing competitive athletes. Notwithstanding, he is still jittery about the future of some programmes such as Re Ba Bona Ha service level agreement and affiliates empowerment exercise, which is yet to start. KK prides himself with Re Ba Bona Ha programme which he describes as a source of talent for most district teams. Also, during his stay at BNSC, he says he played a major role in creating clear communication structures - meetings were run professionally and updates were the norm. He also devised a standardised constitution for affiliates. “Our athletes are performing, we have started harvesting and the best is yet to come. I am convinced I have run my race well,” he says. That said, at some point in time many face the daunting task of having to change their current employment for new prospects and unchatered ground.  This means leaving comfort zones.

There is evidence to suggest that most people are struck with fear of imminent change - fear of the unknown. For various reasons, many people would rather remain in comfort zones of their current employment than to plunge into unfamiliar territory. This is despite screaming prospects of a higher salary and career growth. In much the same way, when KK took the decision to leave his comfort zone, he must have laboured hard with the idea of venturing where he had never treaded before. In fact, by his own admission, leaving BNSC was not something he had imagined, at least not at the time, and definitely not until an uncomfortable situation had emerged at work, and so he told journalists at the time of his resignation. And leave he did.

Although the longtime sport administrator’s resignation became talk of the month, it is not hard to realise that he has left a lasting legacy in sport, one built over years served in various organs.  Some people perform, sing or just ‘break records’ to become popular but some tread on just their professional designations, and former BNSC top official is one of the latter group. The name KK is not only synonymous with sport but also popular among the non-sporting spheres as he has over the years become a friend of the media, both print and broadcast. News that he was to hang his gloves last February stunned many as they were still expecting more from him.

In any case, who can really stop a man from completing his race? The man did not fear change, and now his new world is not only warm but it is also a new haven of sport-related activities. KK now runs his own Legos Blits, a consultancy company that focuses on training and promotions. The company also offers services such as structural reviews, entity management, policy proposals, athlete management, conferencing, report writing and proof reading.

In Botswana sport is still too small to patronize, so Legos Blits has cast its net wider to other non-sporting organisations.  Much as KK succeeded while at BNSC, it appears he will do likewise in his new home. In the greatest scheme of things, the former sport administrator’s path to greatness must have been due to his efforts with the Gaborone West and Old Naledi development teams as coach. This is where the man was spotted and selected to attend various courses such as Philosophy A-license for a football course and a CAF coaching course. The courses paved KK’s way to the Botswana National Sports Council as administrative secretary in 1991. In 1996 he was temporarily redeployed to public relations and administration office.

Given his zeal, he was appointed manager for sports development in 1997 before going for his Masters in Sports Development and coaching in 2000. Upon his return, he served briefly in his initial position but when the incumbent BNSC CEO, Ezekiel Mooki, left the council, KK acted for six months and was appointed substantively later. At the moment he is largely occupied with establishing his business, but funny enough, he says once things have taken off, he will consider coaching again. Since coaching in the country is not lucrative, he will still heavily rely on his business. KK is aggressively marketing himself within sport organs and NGOs, and some already enjoy his services. He believes that Batswana will not deny themselves his services. “The country has invested in me and I want to plough the knowledge back." was his parting shot!

KK’S SOJOURN IN WORLD OF SPORT

“My interest in sport dates back to my school days. I had a bias for football, so I played for my home teams which were then in second division - Mokgosi, Peleng Kicks, and Nadias,” recollects KK. Although KK’s bias towards football was later to be tempered with active boxing while a student at the University of Botswana (UB), he later reverted back to football, this time as coach. Some of the teams he worked with, young as he was, included Maletamotse, Gunners, Pulps, and Peleng Kicks. Before long, Kemoeng was coaching in schools at various levels, and this saw him being a coach for BISA’s Matshwane national select team 1986/7. In just a short period of time his outstanding coaching skills earned him a position in the national football organising committee in 1987/88. He also served in the coaches committee for football from 1986-88 with the likes of Matshidiso “Saxton” Kowa and Losika “Six” Keatlholetswe, among others. ENDS   

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