Category: Sports

Women football in Botswana has over the years grown from humble beginnings into a vibrant and competitive ecosystem.

What started as a small movement driven by passion and love for the game has now developed into a structured and respected competition through the BH National Women’s League.

The league has become the foundation upon which the Botswana Football Association (BFA) is building the future of women’s football in the country. Many players who wear the colours of their clubs today represent a generation that refused to give up on their dreams.

They trained on difficult pitches, travelled long distances to play matches, and continued to believe in football even when resources were limited. As a result of their commitment and perseverance, Botswana stands in a position where women’s football is gaining the recognition and support it deserves.

In his campaign for the BFA presidency, Tariq Babitseng vowed to take women’s football seriously and give it the attention it deserved, noting that it was a low-hanging fruit as evidenced by the Mares’ back-to-back qualifications for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

His ambition now is to ensure that the Mares make history by qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In that regard, the BFA on Wednesday handed over playing kits to 20 women’s football clubs competing in the BH National Women’s League.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Babitseng said FIFA had placed women’s football at the pinnacle of its priorities and had therefore provided financial support specifically for the development of the women’s football. He said the federation remained committed to strengthening women’s football at all levels, from grassroots development to elite competition.

Their goal, he said, was to create an environment where every girl who dreamt of playing football had the opportunity to do so. “A football kit may appear simple, but in reality it carries powerful meaning.  When a team walks into the pitch wearing their colours, they are not only representing their club. They are representing their communities, their families, and the dreams of many young girls watching from the sidelines.”

Acting BFA chief executive officer, Kago Mosinyi, said the BH National Women’s League had become an important platform for developing talent, nurturing competition, and providing opportunities for women and girls across Botswana to participate in football at a high level. He said the dedication shown by clubs, players, coaches and administrators had played a critical role in elevating the standard of the game.

“Today’s ceremony also highlights the importance of partnership in football development. We are grateful to our league technical sponsor, WUSA Clothing, for their support and commitment to the league. Their contribution helps ensure that our teams are properly equipped and able to represent their clubs with pride and professionalism,” he said.

Mosinyi said as the federation handed over the kits, they were also celebrating the spirit of unity and progress within the league. He encouraged the teams to continue demonstrating the passion, discipline and sportsmanship that defined the beautiful game.

“Your efforts on and off the field continue to inspire young girls across Botswana who dream of one day playing football at the highest level,” he said.

Six countries have so far confirmed their participation in the Lefika International Relays 2026, which will be held on March 28 at the National Stadium.

The event will serve as one of curtain raisers, as the country is preparing to host the World Athletics Relays. Spectators should therefore brace themselves for a spectacular track event which has attracted countries like Poland, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

Botswana, Zambia, Nigerian and South Africa will field teams in the 4x100m women relay, while the 4x100m men relay will feature the trio of Botswana, Zambia and Nigeria.

So far, Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa and Poland have confirmed their participation in the 4x100m mixed relay.Botswana, Zambia and Nigeria will be in the 4x400m women and men relays, while 4x400m mixed relays will feature the host Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria.

Lefika Athletics Club secretary, Dineo Basitang said preparations were going well. She said the only challenge they were facing was lack of sponsors. However, she emphasised that this year’s event would be big, given that they were expecting more countries to confirm their participation. Basitang said countries will use the Lefika Relays to gauge their readiness for the World Relays as well as to acclimatise.

She said the event was of high magnitude as it would be used as the 2026 World Athletics Relays qualifier, hence they were expecting more countries who were yet to qualify for the World Relays to try their luck at the event. Also, she said the relays would also be used as a dry run for the 2026 World Athletics Relays to be held in Gaborone on May 2-3.

“We are expecting the World Relays to access the referees, volunteers and all other logistics to identify areas that needed more attention before the World Relays,” she said.

Basitang said the event would be recorded in the history books of Lefika Relays, as for the first time the number of countries that confirmed their participation had increased satisfactorily, compared with only two that featured in the last edition.  She said tickets were already on sale online and the VVIP stand was P500, premium stands tickets sell at P200 while other stands sell at P50. 

Spectators should brace themselves to see top athletes from Poland, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana in action at the Lefika International Relays slated for March 28 at the National Stadium.

Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa are expected to field athletes in the 4x100m (women) while Botswana, Zambia and Nigeria will take part in the 4x100m (men) category. So far, the 4x100m mixed relay line up is made up of Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa and Poland. 

Botswana will line up in the 4x400m for women and men categories with Zambia and Nigeria, while Lesotho will field a team in the 4×400 mixed together with Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Nigeria.

In an interview, Lefika Athletics Club secretary, Dineo Basitang said this year’s event would be big as more countries were yet to confirm.  In the last edition, she said they only featured two countries. 

The event, she said would be used a qualifier for World Athletics Relays, adding that countries also hoped to use the event to gauge their readiness for the May 2-3 event in Gaborone. She further said the Lefika relays would be used a dry run for the World Athletics Relays. 

 “We are expecting the World Athletics Relays to assess referees, volunteers and all their logistics to identify as to which areas need more attention,” she said. 

While preparations were going well, she said they faced challenges of lack of sponsors.  She said tickets were already on sale online and the VVIP stand is P500, premium P200 and P50 other stands.

Obakeng Keitemoge, born and raised in Gaborone, is a visual and fine artist whose work is deeply rooted in Botswana and African traditions.

His art celebrates the continent’s rich heritage, often portraying tribal life, fashion, cuisine, architecture and pottery.

“Mostly, I like to draw cultural artwork depicting African tribes, their way of life, fashion, culinary traditions, and architecture. Our culture is so rich, and I want to capture it,” Keitemoge explains.

His passion for art began in Standard 5 during a CAPA lesson and never faded. He carried it through junior and senior secondary school days, eventually earning an A* in Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education.

In 2016, he turned his passion into a full-time career, working across drawing, painting, and fabric design.

Beyond his own practice, Keitemoge is committed to teaching, he mentors young artists, unemployed individuals, and vulnerable communities, equipping them with painting and drawing skills to help them create opportunities for self-employment.

“I share my skills because I know art can change lives, it worked for me, and I want others to benefit too,” he says.

Keitemoge envisions art becoming a valuable investment in Botswana, comparable to real estate. He believes art not only appreciates in value but also has the potential to contribute to the nation’s GDP and diversify the economy.

His dream is for Batswana to invest in art as a way of telling their own stories and showcasing their identity to the world. With the internet connecting global markets, Keitemoge aims to reach audiences far beyond Botswana.

“The whole world is connected; we can sell to people in Finland, Germany, the United States. I want to use the internet to reach everywhere,” he notes.

Despite challenges such as limited understanding of art’s economic potential, he remains committed to educating others.

In 2025, he marked a milestone year, participating in a programme sponsored by the National Art Council of Botswana, where he and fellow artists taught art skills to school dropouts and vulnerable groups, empowering them to earn through creativity.

His advice to fellow artists is to remain original, patient, and persistent;

“Never tire of telling and sharing stories in the global village,” he says, encouraging artists to attract international enthusiasts.

He also wishes for the Ministry of Sports and Arts to invest in artists by recognising art’s role in storytelling, economic diversification, and national development.

At 32, Keitemoge continues to build momentum, driven by a vision of art as both cultural heritage and economic opportunity. His journey, a reflection of personal achievement and a mission to elevate Botswana’s art onto the global stage.

The senior national football team coach, Morena Ramoreboli, has expressed confidence that the Zebras have what it takes to qualify for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Speaking at the team’s appreciation event in Gaborone Monday, he said Botswana has an abundance of talent, emphasising that players developed best when their mistakes were corrected rather than overlooked with praise as constructive criticism was key to their growth. 

“To all technicians, remember that your contribution is to grow football in this country. We have been given that responsibility,” he said. 

Ramoreboli stressed that in nurturing talent, coaches must focus on helping players improve and grow into stronger footballers. 

The coach admitted that the team was not proud of their AFCON performance in Morocco, where they were eliminated in the group stages. 

However, he said their participation in the finals provided valuable lessons that would help them reach the same level as stronger teams. He said as a coach, he learnt a lot in Morocco. 

“For the first time in my football career I had to stand for 90 minutes, and it was difficult to send messages because of the crowd and stadium noise. Those are things our players are not used to,” he said. 

He said they also gained insight into the lifestyle and level of commitment demonstrated by other players at AFCON. 

“We saw Sadio Mané play 90 minutes in all games and still give the same attitude,” he said. 

Ramoreboli noted that during the 2012 AFCON tournament, the same Senegal side that recently won the championship had once gone home without a single win. 

“Sometimes we take many lessons before getting what we want, but because of noise and negativity we end up thinking we are not good enough,” he said. 

He further said national team coaches and players carried huge responsibility in representing their countries with pride. 

“Before pointing fingers, players, coaches, legends and stakeholders should ask themselves how best they can help the national team,” he said. 

Ramoreboli observed that people were often quick to judge and forgot their critical role in supporting the national team so that it could achieve good results. 

“This is a national team where everybody is responsible. Your little contribution, whether at the stadium or through positive messages on social media, always pushes our boys,” he said.

He added that if the nation could unite, there was no doubt Botswana could achieve great things. Ramoreboli also thanked the Botswana Football Association for its relentless support during AFCON preparations and throughout the tournament.

Skateboarding has evolved over the years.The art of skateboarding has transformed from a creative alternative to a competitive sport that has now become a fully-fledged Olympic sport.
Equally in Botswana, skateboarding is becoming part of today’s culture, with notable breakthroughs here and there.
Local photographer, Mosako Chalashika said despite the growth in recent years, Botswana’s skateboarding scene continued to operate largely on the margins, both professionally and recreationally, with limited global visibility.
Currently, the country boasts of the likes of top skater, Theo Setsetse, who last year earned global recognition after being selected for a three-year World Skate Development Scholarship Programme in the United States.
He said through his three-week exhibition currently showing at the Alliance Française until March 10, the desire was to spotlight Botswana and Africa’s skateboarding culture on the international stage.

Through his photography, he documents Botswana’s skating crews in their raw element, capturing technical tricks such as hardflips, nosegrinds and boardslides, while also showcasing the scene’s distinctive fashion, atmosphere and unconventional skating spots, including bus stop benches and urban public spaces.
“It is important not to wait for others to capture and tell our stories. That is part of the reason I am doing this. I want the world to see that Botswana and other African countries have talent and that skateboarding exists here too,” he said, praising the continent’s vibrant and distinctive skating culture.
Chalashika’s decade-long career has taken him across several African countries including Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal.
His work has also appeared in a multi-page spread in the American skateboard magazine Thrasher, featuring Botswana’s skate crew, Knucklehds.

Looking ahead, Chalashika envisions a much larger and more structured local skateboarding ecosystem.
He revealed that discussions were underway with the Gaborone City Council to build what would become Botswana’s first dedicated skate park, to be named the Knucklehds Skatepark.
He added that a United States-based skate park-building non-governmental organisation, Wonder Around World, which previously helped construct Nigeria’s first skate park, had already expressed willingness to assist. The timeline for the project is yet to be announced.

Chalashika emphasised the importance of public education about skateboarding, stressing that it should not be viewed as rebellious or delinquent behaviour.
Instead, he said, the sport offered young people a constructive refuge from social ills and legitimate career opportunities, particularly now that it is recognised as an Olympic discipline.

Another promising junior tennis player from Botswana, Tinashe Phatshwane, has joined the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Regional Training Centre in Sousse, Tunisia, on a one year scholarship.
The 14-year-old Phatshwane’s move to North Africa comes just a few weeks after another young ace, Malak Macheng, enrolled at the same facility.

Botswana Tennis Association vice president Nonofo Othusitse said in an interview that Phatshwane has been selected as one of the beneficiaries for the 2026 calendar year by the CAT.

While in Tunisia, Tinashe will study online and compete in both local and international tournaments. Othusitse said it is a critical opportunity for him to train at a well resourced and supported international centre where he will not only get top tier coaching but competitions as well.

‎Tebogo Sebego has been assigned to the FIFA Appeals Committee for the upcoming World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada (June 11-July 19).

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‎Sebego, former BFA president, will serve in Miami from June 10-20.

‎BFA vice president-technical, Tico Kamati hailed the assignment, citing Sebego’s legal expertise and sharp understanding of laws of the game.

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‎”This positions Botswana on the global map,” he said, adding that Sebego’s experience will benefit the country’s bid to host tournaments like COSAFA.

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‎Sebego was appointed to FIFA Appeals Committee during the 2025 FIFA general assembly meeting and would serve for four years.