INTERVIEW WITH DR. MOAGI SHARP, THE PRESIDENT OF PRO WRESTLING AFRICA (PWA) & BOTSWANA PRO WRESTLING FEDERATION
‘’Set to host Botswana Independence Pro Wrestling Jam 2021 in September’’
Exploits of Dr. Moagi Sharp, the President of the Botswana Professional Wrestling Federation (BPWF) and President of the Pro Wrestling Africa (PWA), the mouthpiece of the game continentally that also represents the interest of the continent of Africa internationally as a continental body cannot be quantified as an all round specialist in his field.
How has it been with wrestling as a sport in Botswana?
Professional wrestling in Botswana has come of age though it started in Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, which has a landscape defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, which becomes a lush animal habitat during the seasonal floods. The massive Central Kalahari Game Reserve, with its fossilized river valleys and undulating grasslands, is home to numerous animals including giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs.
When and how did you start wrestling in your country?
‘’I started wrestling in 2003. To enable us spread, we have to establish amateur wrestling clubs throughout the Botswana, one of Africa’s most stable countries, the continent’s longest continuous multi-party democracy. The clubs were: Selebi Phikwe Wrestling Club, Francistown Wrestling Club, Maun Wrestling Club, Gaborone Wrestling Club and Ghanzi Wrestling Club. It was not an easy task then to commence the sport and because it was new in the country people did not want to reckon with us. It took us time to change the mind of people, that it is a great sport that can give us lots of laurels in Botswana if we are at it. The fans were already aware of pro wrestling which they view on their television sets whereas I was introducing amateur wrestling. Partnership with media houses to talk about the sport and showcase what we were doing really helped us in changing the minds of citizens’ show’’ he explained.
How did pro wrestling start in Botswana?
‘’I was able to register Botswana Wrestling Federation in 2011 and since then, we have affiliated with the nation’s governing sports body, the Botswana Sports Commission and in 2012 we affiliated with the world body, United World Wrestling which encouraged us to hold many championship events like the national wrestling championship and many people then developed interest. Having successfully established amateur wrestling in Botswana, in the 2013 we came up with the idea of introducing professional wrestling in Botswana and we manage to register Wrestling Entertainment Championship which has been partnering with the Botswana Professional Wrestling Federation. We are doing quite well at our level though there are lots of opportunities to better the lot of what we are doing currently. Partnering with Media houses has really helped us to go extra mile with lots of interviews on the newspaper and television.
Have you been able to create lots of fans in Botswana?
Botswana as a country has a large crowd who will always troop out to watch professional wrestling whenever it is staged. We have taken time to train and nurture our talents who are fully ready to showcase the prowess and gimmicks they have acquired over the years but COVID 19 has debar us from the planned championship which should have held on the 5th March 2021. Fans would always attend events since they know we have able and qualified grapplers made and produced in Botswana.
Our activities are noticeable
As the President of the Botswana Wrestling Federation which is the amateur scene, I believe that our wrestlers would have participated in the Olympics as well as other national, African Games as well as international events with the kind of readiness we have now. That will surely bring honour and glory to the Botswana nation.
As the president of PWA who will be in charge for the next four years, what are your plans to achieve the needful?
We are very ready and set to take the game to the next level. We need to work hand in hand as a team bringing all the national wrestling bodies in Africa together. Africa as a continent has what it takes to rule the world of professional wrestling. Yes, I have seen that and I believe in it. We just need to tidy up on what we are doing. Exchange of wrestling talents from different nations at our championships and events would really enable us to go farther than expected. For example, showcasing wrestlers from Zimbabwe coming to Botswana and visa verse which should be applicable to other nations. I want to unite all professional countries in Africa, see to it that PWA member countries have activities constantly and a national event holding at the nation’s level annually. I will also create a product that would be seen by potential sponsors which can make international sponsors to take interest in our activities. I will see to it that profiles of all the wrestlers should be filled and handy so whenever it is needed, we just go for it.
Will also see to the fact that our African wrestlers fairly compete at WWE and AEW in the coming years. Let us entice potential wrestlers from our different countries first and that can enable us to put our resources together.
How cooperative are the PWA Management team to you?
Through sincere contributions and participation by all the PWA management team, I see PWA our continental Wrestling Organization which is an independent pro-wrestling promoting outfit that was set up on the 4th day of February 2015 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Central Africa going places in the next four years we are going to serve as the management team. I am not new to the sport as well as to management issues, so I see us going places.
Partnership of BPWF AND PWA, how far can the two bodies go?
Plans are on with the Botswana Pro Wrestling Federation to partner with the Pro Wrestling Africa. Our intention is to hold the Botswana Independence Pro Wrestling Jam 2021 on the 30th September 2021 in commemoration of our annual independence which should be the first time to host an event of this magnitude in our nation and the event promises to showcase the best of talents from Botswana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, South Africa, Egypt and so on. As the president of the PWA, it is important that I lead by example and I am indeed ready for this timely event.
How far have you gone on sponsorship?
Currently pleading with the current potential sponsors in Botswana to come out and sponsor the proposed event which will definitely put Botswana on the map of World professional Wrestling. We are also pleading for assistance in this regard as well as the government of the day Botswana. Independence has to be a season of celebrations which simply means the time when a country or region gains political freedom from outside control and bringing African warlords to Botswana in commemoration of the Independence Day in would be nice initiative to entertain the citizens to see what they have been seeing on television life. We intend to bring many African wrestlers to Africa and this would be a great achievement in our country.
