Category: Sports

In just two days, the heavy silence that precedes a gunshot will settle over the track, followed by the rhythmic pulse that every sprinter knows by heart – “On your marks, get set, go!”

On May 2-3, Botswana becomes the epicentre of the track and field world. The Debswana World Athletics Relays will see athletes from 40 different nations descend upon the capital, all hunting for podium finishes. But while the world watches the clock, the local crowd will be watching their own and it awaits the roar of the Blue, Black and White as Botswana braces for the Relays glory.

In international athletics, the home crowd is often cited as the invisible teammate. Normally, during these competitions, the host team receives a deafening wave of cheers that their competitors simply cannot match. The burning question remaining is, is Team Botswana ready to channel that energy into a state of frenzy?

The pressure is immense, but the camp remains a fortress of calm.

For star sprinter Letsile Tebogo, the mission is that the team has spent their time sharpening their skills in the quiet of Boteti, away from the noise of the city.

“I think we are ready to fight for our country,” Tebogo said, his focus unshakable. “Preparations have been going well… we asked the management to minimise meetings because, during race week, we need to focus. If there were queries, we left them in Boteti.”

His teammates share that quiet confidence. Bhekimpilo Eppie noted that the team is ready to deliver, while Obakeng Kameruka emphasised that the time for talking is over.

“The coaches have done their part. What is left is for us to execute what we have been doing at training… we have to step up and deliver,” Kameruka said.

Behind the scenes, the preparation has been a gruelling journey from Letlhakane to the capital. Coach Justice Dipeba has been monitoring every stride, particularly looking at the transition from the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix held this past Sunday.

“The focus is where we wanted it. We had athletes competing on Sunday and saw some good times, but we will finish up this week by focusing strictly on speed,” Dipeba said.

Ensuring those ‘speed machines’ remain operational is the team physiotherapist, Clement Gaothuse.

Gaothuse’s report is the one every fan wanted to hear, that the squad is at full strength. “The team is fit and injury-free. We can see the fire in them,” he confirmed.

As we approach the final countdown, the baton exchanges have been drilled, the lactic acid has been endured and the mental barriers have been broken. The athletes are locked in, the morale is high and the stage is set.

Expectation is hanging heavy over the National Stadium and the University of Botswana stadium.

Thousands will gather to see if the local heroes can turn home-field advantage into gold-medal reality.

Preparations are complete. The training is done. Now, it is over to you, Mr Starter.

The four local athletes, Refilwe Murangi, Zibani Ngozi, Karabo Mothibi and Lydia Jele, have not had access to the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS), as technical problems have hindered the creation of their credentials.A lawyer representing the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and the National Anti-Doping Organisation, Pako Moakofi, explained on Monday during the case status hearing.An explanation that Justice Itumeleng Segolopo of the Gaborone High Court did not take kindly to, thus ordering the athletes’ legal representative, Tshepang Makwati, and the respondent to draw up a schedule to be made an order of the court, and that the two parties should abide by.The case is scheduled for a status hearing next Wednesday.

A total of 120 diamond-encrusted medals will be awarded to winning athletes at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.Each medal will be embedded with Botswana’s real, natural diamonds mined, cut and polished locally.“These are not synthetic stones, but authentic diamonds born of our land, carrying Botswana’s history and identity onto the global stage,” President Advocate Duma Boko said at the unveiling ceremony and launch of the Botswana 60 Years of Diamond Leadership initiative.He added that the initiative goes beyond sport, describing it as a bold statement of national pride and economic strength.“This is more than sport; it is Botswana asserting its value, its craftsmanship and its future—where every medal tells our story of resilience, unity and progress,” he said.

President Advocate Duma Boko has officially handed over the ceremonial baton to Botswana sprint star, Isaac Makwala, marking the launch of a nationwide relay journey ahead of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, scheduled for 2–3 May in Gaborone.The baton, which forms part of the buildup to the relays, will travel across the country ahead of the international event.The baton handover took place at the Botswana National Museum on April 20, where the President said the location was chosen for its deep historical and symbolic significance.He noted that the moment was not only about reflecting on Botswana’s journey, but also about defining the future the country is building.“We gather here today at this place, the National Museum, a place of deep historical and symbolic importance, not only to reflect on a journey that has shaped Botswana, but to define with clarity the future we are determined to build,” President Boko said.He announced the launch of the Botswana 60 Years of Diamond Leadership Initiative; a national strategic platform aimed at commemorating six decades of diamond-led development while positioning the sector for the future.“We are positioning Botswana’s diamond industry for the future—from value chain development, broadband-led marketing, and downstream commercialisation,” he said.President Boko added that the initiative represented firm national commitments beyond symbolism, calling it a declaration of intent for the country’s development trajectory.“These are deep-seated commitments, solemnly declared in public and affirmed here, now, and into the future,” he said.

The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) has released names of the nominees for the 45th Botswana Sports Awards, with Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) dominating with eight nominations.Three Botswana top athletes; Collen Kebinatshipi of athletics, Goitseone Phoko of football and Tumiso Phuthego of judo have been nominated for the Sportsman of the year while the Sportswoman of the year category has Oratile Nowe of athletics, Centy Kgosikoma of karate and Naledi Banda of chess.Justice Oratile of athletics, Ntungamili Raguin of tennis and Edwin Nyoka of bowling have been nominated in the Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year category, while the Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year has Same Mhutsiwa of athletics, Swimmer Melodi Saleshando and Neelo Modise from Judo.Team of the year category has the men’s 4x400m relay team from athletics, Davis Cup team from tennis and 4x400m mixed relay from BOTESSA.Botswana Athletics Association, Botswana Swimming Sport Association and Botswana Table Tennis Association have been nominated for the National Sport Assoiation of the year.Oratile Ndadziila of athletics, Abel Mataboge from softball and Doroth Okatch of basketball will be eying the Umpire of the Year award while Coach of the Year category has Chilume Ntshwarang from Botswana Athletics Association, Phenyo Matong form Botswana Tennis Association and Botswana Football Association under 20 national team coach, Tapaphiwa Gaebolae.In other nominations, Omphile Botlhasitse of tennis and Gloria Majaga of Paralympics Association of Botswana will battle it out for the Female Sportsperson with disability while table tennis president, Kudzani Motswagole, bowling president Marea Modutlwa and Botswana Football Association president Tariq Babitseng have been nominated for the Sport Administrator of Year.Chairperson adjudication panel, Dr Lobone Kasale said the athletes’ categories were adjudicated based on the holistic assessment, which was based on the athlete’s performance, which was quantitatively scored based on where the athletes competed; whether national, regional, continental, international, commonwealth, world, or Olympics and how they competed; if they reached semifinals, finals, or brought bronze, silver and gold medals.As for administrators, officials and coaches, he said the holistic assessment accounted for their performance, with regards to places and levels where they coached or officiated at national, regional, continental, international, Commonwealth, World or Olympics.He further said their improvement, impact and discipline were also qualitatively assessed.

Botswana’s rising tennis star, Ntungamili Raguin, is set for a demanding international season as he continues his rapid ascent on the global junior tennis circuit.

The 17-year-old is scheduled to compete in a series of high-level tournaments across Europe and beyond, further cementing his growing reputation in world tennis. His calendar includes J500 tournaments in Italy and Belgium, followed by appearances at the junior events of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Locally, Ntungamili is expected to participate in Botswana Futures tournaments in May, the Davis Cup in June. In September, he is set to compete in Futures events in Angola and Mozambique.

According to Botswana Tennis Association vice president, Nonofo Othusitse, all these competitions require resources.

Ntungamili recently reached a historic milestone by becoming the first Motswana to break into the Top 50 of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Junior Rankings, climbing to World No. 50.

Most recently, he competed in a J500 tournament, finishing as a quarter-finalist in doubles. 

Currently based in the south of France, Ntungamili trains under an experienced coaching team that includes Killian Sinclair and former ATP World No. 4 Thomas Enqvist.

Ntungamili’s continued rise marks not only a personal success story but also a significant moment for Botswana.

The Botswana Bowling Association has called to camp 10 players for an intensive training camp as the association finalises preparations ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games pencilled for Glasgow, Scotland in July.

Speaking ahead of the training camp slated for Francistown on April 20, Botswana bowls spokesperson and also assistant coach of the national team, Edwin Nyoka said the squad comprised of five men’s players and five women’s players who were yet to be finalised owing to eligibility criteria for participation.

Viewed as the most prestigious event in the global bowls calendar,  the Commonwealth Games sees players from across the Commonwealth come together to compete against the world’s best bowlers.

Botswana will face tough opposition from some of the global bowling powerhouses such as England, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and Canada among others.

Team Botswana participated in the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and advanced as far as the quarterfinals in what was seen as the best performance in the history of the local bowls team.

Botswana had sent a strong contingent of four women namely Marea Modutlwa, Tshenolo Moshokgo, Lesego Motladiile and Boikhutso Mooketsi, who had qualified for the closely contested tournament at the African States tournament.

Botswana scooped position two at the past two African States tournament hosted in Namibia in 2023 and the last one hosted by Botswana in Orapa.

About eight players are returning to the national team set up with only two from the youth team included.

Reigning national masters champion, Peo Ramodise will join Mooketsi, Gaoromelwe Pelema, Sebathu Sinombe, Kefilwe Moleleki in the women’s category while another enterprising youngster, Edwin Junior Nyoka will join Charles Diteko, Kaizer Geche, Khumo Kebaletetse and Modisaotsile Mphotho in the men’s category.

Nyoka from the youth team has had a bumper year and is the current national singles champion.

The team will also take part in the African States tournament pencilled for September in Lusaka, Zambia.

Meanwhile, the Orapa bowling club will host the 2026 national championship on the first weekend of May to the 16th. 

The tournament rotates among all the five Botswana bowls affiliates annually. 

Last year the national championships were hosted by the Gaborone club and Jwaneng emerged winners of the overall Rhodes Trophy followed by Francistown, Gaborone, Orapa and Selibe Phikwe.

As preparations intensify for the upcoming Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, Team Botswana has commenced a two-week training camp in Letlhakane, fully sponsored by Lucara Botswana to the tune of P1 million. The sponsorship package comprises P700,000 in direct financial support, with the remaining funds allocated to accommodation, catering, transportation, and other logistical requirements. During a courtesy engagement with Boteti District leadership, Lucara Botswana General Manager, Johane Mchive, confirmed that the team would have access to the Lucara stadium facilities at no cost.He further encouraged the athletes to serve as positive role models within the community. Team Captain Boitumelo Masilo expressed appreciation for Lucara’s investment, emphasising that structured preparation was critical to performance outcomes.Kgosi Dira Galeragwe of Letlhakane similarly commended the collaboration.

Different sporting codes in the country continue to grow and win the confidence of the world sport governing bodies by getting rights to host high-profile world-class tournaments.

The latest recipient of such an honour is the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA), who has been granted rights to host the Billie Jean King Cup Group III Africa for the first time.

As such 11 countries, including the host nation are expected to descend on Botswana for the July 13-17 showpiece to be held in Gaborone at the National Tennis Centre.

Botswana will host Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

BTA president, Oaitse Thipe said the Billie Jean King Cup, which is also known as the World Cup of Tennis, was the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport.

Therefore, he said he was excited for the country to host a tournament of such magnitude adding that such an honour would mean a lot to the local tennis players.

He expressed confidence in the team that the association would assemble to compete against Africa’s best.

Thipe said the team was made of Ekua Youri, who is based in University of Santa Barbara California.

The team also has Chelsea Chakanyuka, who is at Hampton University in Virginia, Leungo Monnayo, Naledi Raguin who is based in France and Tshegofatso Tsiang, who is in the US.

“We also have young players like Malak Macheng and Angela Chakanyuka who are also looking forward to playing in this tournament,” he said.

Thipe said it was a tough competition, but looking at the girls’ performance at their respective colleges, he was confident that they would bring positive results.

Before hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III, he said they would host Professional Women and Men’s tennis.

Thipe said the professional tournament would be used by some of the players to gauge their readiness for the World Cup of Tennis.