Category: Sports

Speaking during Botswana RaceWars drag racing event organised by Maverick Motorsport Botswana in conjunction with Rhyno’s Torque Show and Skygate Motors in Lobatse Saturday, he said Botswana provided a suitable environment for growth of the sport.

He further said the country was selected to host the thrilling motorsport race as it was in the middle of SADC, the people were friendly, was peaceful, safe, fun and safe to travel to.

Meanwhile, Botswana Post partnered with the event organisers and were on site directly taking services as some managed to pay motor vehicle tax conveniently.

Ms Benah Kobotwe of PstBet Botswana, a new local sport betting company, said they attended the event for the first time to test the waters to check on whether they could include the Botswana RaceWars in their product portfolio.

This year, the event registered impressive numbers of international drivers where over 40 vehicles were competing from different countries across SADC which included, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe.

Botswana is set to take centre stage as the host of the AllAfrica Senior Championships, marking the country’s triumphant return to the continental stage.

 The six-day tournament begins on Monday and runs through Saturday to end the long period of absence for the local squad. 

The last time the Botswana badminton team competed in the event was in 2013, when it was hosted in South Africa. 

Since then, financial constraints have forced players to remain on the sidelines as spectators. 

Now, by serving as the host nation, Botswana has paved the way for a major competitive comeback. 

To ensure that they make a statement on home soil, the national team recently completed an intensive training camp in India and returned home yesterday. 

Meanwhile, the tournament is a cornerstone of the badminton calendar, drawing entries from 21 countries, including powerhouses like Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa. 

Other participating countries include Algeria, Botswana (host), Burundi, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Mauritius, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

The championship will feature the continent’s elite talent competing in both individual and team categories. 

Under the tutelage of coaches Oreeditse Thela and Keita Fukuda, athletes who will represent the nation include Tefo Kabomo, Godknows Ketlhabanetswe, Tshepo Perekisi, Tumelo Moilwa and Tsamorena Kgosidialwa in the men’s team. 

The women’s squad comprises Keletso Ntebela, Tsholofelo Willie, Tebogo Ndzinge and Tessa Kabelo.

In an interview, Botswana Badminton Association (BBA) president, Modisaotsile Badubi confirmed that the tournament was sanctioned by both the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA). 

Badubi said he was happy to have been given the opportunity to host, noting that the event allowed Botswana to showcase its infrastructure, hospitality and sporting passion

Botswana is set to host the Men’s and Women’s ITF World Tennis Tour professional events.

 The tournaments are expected to attract a significant influx of international players and officials to the National Tennis Centre from May 11-23.

There is no doubt that Botswana tennis is entering one of the most promising periods in its history, fuelled by a surge of exceptional junior talent.

Notably, Ntungamili Raguin recently made headlines by qualifying for Junior Grand Slam events, including the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Alongside Raguin, several other junior stars are showing immense potential, with many eyeing the top 100 position in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Junior Rankings.

Achieving such a ranking is a critical gateway, allowing athletes to qualify for or better prepare for the prestigious Junior Grand Slam stage.

These emerging talents include Tinashe Phatshwane, Lebone Tlape, Malak Macheng and Angel Chakanyuka.

Furthermore, Botswana continues to excel in the college tennis pathway, with standout players such as Ekua Youri, Chelsea Chakanyuka, Denzel Seetso, Batsomi Marobela and Mark Nawa.

In recognition of this growing depth, the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) has taken strategic steps to host ITF World Tennis Tour Junior tournaments.

These events expose local players to elite international competition while allowing them to earn valuable global ranking points on home soil.

At the senior level, the BTA is now advancing its efforts to host professional events, providing a viable platform for players to transition into professional careers following their junior development.

In an interview, BTA vice president, Nonofo Othusitse noted that in line with international standards, each tournament was identified by gender, prize money and host city.

The upcoming events will be designated as M15 Gaborone for the men and W15 Gaborone for the women. “An M15 tournament represents a men’s event offering US$15 000 (over P200 000) in prize money, while a W15 tournament is the women’s equivalent,” Othusitse explained.

Over the two-week period, Botswana will host four tournaments in total, two for men and two for women.

These competitions will allow local athletes to earn crucial international ranking points and compete for a share of the US$ 15 000 purse per tournament.

Botswana to host ITF World Tennis Tour events Othusitse emphasised that this was a significant milestone, as the ITF World Tennis Tour served as the foundational level of professional tennis and also functioned as the primary bridge linking the Junior circuit to the higher tiers of global professional tennis.

Because ranking points earned at these events are incorporated into the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) systems, players have the opportunity to progress to the Challenger Tour, the ATP/WTA Tour and ultimately the Grand Slams.

For Botswana, hosting the M15 and W15 Gaborone tournaments aligns with the Botswana National Sport Commission’s Vision 2028, which seeks to enhance the impact of sport on society, improve athlete performance and elevate the hosting of major events. Furthermore, the initiative supports the country’s Vision 2036, which positions sport as a key contributor to national economic growth.

Botswana is slowly positioning itself as the new giant of Africa in sport. Across sporting codes, several names have become entrenched in people’s minds both at home and abroad. In

athletics, Letsile Tebogo and Collen Kebinatshipi have become much loved icons, whereas in football Sedilame Bosija and Refilwe Tholakele have similarly endeared themselves to the nation.

In swimming, upcoming star, Jade Chilisa has thrown the code into the mix, putting it on a pedestal with her top-tier performance.

Now, tennis has taken centre stage. The code’ showstopper,

Ntungamili Raguin is constantly distinguishing himself as a

crème de la crème of the sport.

He is the man of firsts: the first Motswana to compete at the

Australian Junior Open and first to win J100 back-to-back.

Prior to the Australian Junior Open, Raguin who was ranked

75 but he now sits at Number 56 in the world.

And just last year, he ranked among the top 250, a feat

many paid little att enti on to despite efforts by the

Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) to draw attention to the possibility of Botswana clinching a junior Grand Slam.

Where Raguin is now requires concerted efforts and support from stakeholders including national sport agencies, government and corporates and indeed, the nation.

He will require more resources in order to sustain these performances, given that he has three more junior Grand Slams this year; Wimbledon, French Open

and US Open.

In between, he will play other bigger tournaments such as J300 and J500, all of which will require substantial budgets.

But, what does this feat mean to the country? According to BTA vice president, Nonofo Othusitse, Raguin’s incredible run at the 2026 Australian Open Junior Championships was a source of immense pride.

“We were over the moon when we made it out of the qualifying draw into the main draw,” Othusitse said, highlighting how historic a performance it was for a player who was making a maiden appearance at a Grand Slam.

Raguin simply defied the odds, exceeding all expectations in the process and the BTA could not be more elated.

“To fully comprehend this performance, one needs to go

back to last year December when he was ranked 168 in the world,” Othusitse said.

“During the Australian OpenJunior week he reached a career

high ranking of 75. Now, he is at 56 aft er the new rankings were released on Monday,” he added.

Further rallying the nation to throw its entire weight behind

the player, Othusitse believed that adequate support would spur Raguin on to keep raising the bar

higher.

While BTA appreciates the support they received from Botswana National Sports Commission and

Botswana National Olympic Committee through their programmes, more money is still required and according to Othusitse at least a million Pula a year in funding

would suffice.

“All in all, it looks like it is going to be an exciting year for Raguin and indeed Botswana tennis. We are grateful for the support he has received thus far and hope it continues into the future,” he said

Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) vice president has lauded Malak Macheng’s move to Tunisia to join the African Regional Training Centre (ARTC) as a milestone achievement for the young athlete.
“This is obviously a great opportunity for Malak,” said the BTA vice president, Nonofo Othusitse in an interview.
Othusitse noted that the scholarship was part of a prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) initiative.
“We understand that the centre can only take 16 players, eight boys and eight girls, so to make the cut was not easy, as admission was based on both ITF and CAT rankings,” he added.
Again, he said the one-year scholarship placed Malak in a high-performance environment designed to bridge the gap between continental talent and international standards. At the Sousse-based facility, Malak will benefit from integrated sport science which entailed all-around access to Sports Medicine services and professional expertise. She will also benefit from Comprehensive Development, which is a curriculum that balanced elite training and high-level competition with off-court personal growth.
She will further have academic rigor, which is a mandatory requirement to maintain an acceptable level of academic performance alongside her athletic commitments.
Malak’s mother, Bonnie Macheng, accompanied her daughter for the transition and confirmed in an interview their arrival in Sousse on Tuesday.
After an initial tour of the grounds, she noted that the facilities were user-friendly and well-equipped for elite athletes.
By Wednesday, Malak had already begun her integration, meeting with her new fitness and conditioning coach to outline her training schedule for the year.
The exclusivity of Malak’s opportunity has highlighted a gap the BTA is eager to close. Othusitse explained that the limited spots at the ARTC had spurred the association to seek a local solution.
“The BTA is currently in the process of setting up a National Training Centre (NTC) and we have made the necessary applications to the ITF,” he said.
He noted that a domestic NTC would allow Botswana to provide a larger number of athletes with the same high-performance training, sports science and medical expertise that Malak was currently accessing in Tunisia.

Ntungamili Raguin’s impressive run at the Australian Open Junior Championships 2026 has come to an end after suffering a 6-4, 6-3 defeat against world number three, Luis Augusto Queiroz Miguel of Brazil in the last 16 on Thursday.
The 17-year-old has made the country proud as the first Motswana to compete at a junior Grand Slam, delivering strong performances from the qualification stage through to the main draw and into the last 16.
His achievement is commendable, considering that he was still battling to secure a place in the Australian Open qualifying draw just a month ago.
Throughout the tournament, Raguin demonstrated maturity, composure and the ability to perform under pressure, qualities that have set him apart from many of his peers.
However, Queiroz Miguel, who recently won the J300 tournament in Traralgon and was seeded second at the Australian Open juniors competition, proved a tough nut for Raguin to crack.
Despite the loss, Ntungamili will take some positives from his exploits at the Australian Open juniors having made it all the way to the last 16. In the first round, he edged out Bulgaria’s Dimitar Kisimov 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.
In the second round, he continued his good form, reaching the last 16 after beating tournament 15th seed Gavin Goode of the United States. He won the first set 6-2, lost the second 3-6, and came back strongly to claim the deciding set 6-4.
With the Australian Open juniors behind him now, Raguin will next compete in the J300 tournament in Ecuador on clay courts, followed by preparations for the French Open Junior Championships 2026.
Botswana Tennis Association president Oaitse Thipe has expressed delight at the player’s performance, especially the positive results he achieved against stronger opponents.
Thipe said they were expecting Raguin to learn from the experience and apply the lessons in his upcoming competitions.
“He should hold his head high and now focus on preparing for the French Junior Open. He fought hard and his Australian Open run was good,” he said.
Raguin is currently ranked 75th, and his performance is expected to improve his ranking, as reaching the round of 16 earned him 180 points.

The recent move by Malak Macheng to the African Regional Training Centre (ARTC) in Tunisia has been hailed as a milestone achievement by the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA).

The 13-year-old ace, who won back-to-back International Tennis Federation (ITF)/ Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Under 14 girls singles titles in 2024 in Gaborone, has joined the ARTC on a prestigious scholarship initiative under the ITF.

“This is obviously a great opportunity for Malak,” BTA vice president, Nonofo Othusitse said in an interview.

“We understand that the centre can only take 16 players, eight boys and eight girls, so to make the cut was not easy as admission was based on both ITF and CAT rankings.”

He said during the duration of the one-year scholarship, Malak would be placed in a high-performance environment designed to bridge the gap between continental talent and international standards. 

During her stint at the Sousse-based facility, Malak would benefit from integrated sport science entailing all-around access to sports medicine services and professional expertise. 

She will also benefit from Comprehensive Development, which is a curriculum that balances elite training and high-level competition with off-court personal growth.

Furthermore, she will have academic rigour, which is a mandatory requirement to maintain an acceptable level of academic performance alongside her athletic commitments.

Othusitse explained that BTA was looking to establish a centre in Botswana similar to the ARTC.

“The BTA is currently in the process of setting up a National Training Centre (NTC) and we have made the necessary applications to the ITF,” he said.

He noted that a local NTC would allow Botswana to provide a larger number of athletes with the same high-performance training, sports science and medical expertise that Malak would access in Tunisia.

Malak’s mother, Bonnie Macheng who has accompanied her daughter for the transition, noted in an interview on Tuesday that the facilities were user-friendly and well-equipped for elite athletes.

By Wednesday, Malak had already begun her integration, meeting with her new fitness and conditioning coach to outline her training schedule for the year.

In the rugged landscape of the First Division North (FND), football is often described as a battlefield. But for Maun’s favourite Sankoyo Bush Bucks, alias Ngurungu Boys, the most damaging strike of the season did not come from a rival’s counter-attack or a last-minute goal. Instead, it came from a lapse in paperwork that has left the Ngurungu Boys fighting an uphill battle for redemption. 

The club, legendary for its resilient spirit, recently found itself on the losing end of a league management ruling that saw them stripped of vital points, not for their performance on the pitch, but for a stadium that remained empty when it should have been roaring. 

The controversy dates back to November 22 last year, a date that was marked on the calendar for a high-stakes clash against Chobe’s Ferry Wonderous FC. The Maun Sports Complex was supposed to be the stage, but when match day arrived, the gates were locked to the teams. 

While the club alleged a ‘double booking’ orchestrated from as far away as Gaborone, the First Division North (FDN) committee was unmoved by verbal explanations. Without solid evidence of booking receipts or cancellation letters, the committee invoked the strict mandate of Article 9 of the BFA Play Rules, which culminated into a walkover victory for the visitors and a heavy blow to Sankoyo’s league standing. 

For many clubs, a mid-season points’ deduction would be a death knell for morale. However, the club’s interim chairperson, Anderson Thiya said in an interview that they had accepted the penalty because they viewed football as a military battlefield where players were seen as warriors. 

“We are hopeful that we will rise up in the log standings despite suffering a deduction of points,” Thiya said. 

The ‘warrior’ philosophy is currently being put to the test. Sitting ninth with 13 points, the Ngurungu Boys are a team characterised by beautiful, fluid football that, until now, has lacked a clinical finish. They are a side that traces their roots to the elite Premier League, playing with grace that often opposes their mid-table position. 

To turn Thiya’s military metaphors into reality, the club has used the recent period to beef up the squad and the chairperson remains optimistic that the infusion of new talent will bridge the gap between creating chances and converting goals. 

The strategy will see them focus on the future and Thiya insists that players are not demoralised, but fully aware of the administrative error and are reportedly more committed than ever to clawing back the lost ground. The high morale in the camp suggests a team that is not just playing for points anymore, but playing for pride. 

However, the ruling serves as a blatant reminder of the professionalism that is required to survive in the upper echelons of the local football.  For his part, FDN chairperson, Gosaitse Diboko said while the league understands the challenges of venue management, the rules were indifferent to circumstance without documentation. 

“Sankoyo management communicated their challenge with us a day before the match that there is a double booking and we advised them to look for an alternative venue but promised that they will handle the situation at hand and that was not the case. Procedurally, they should do things in writing. There was no proof, hence our ruling,” Diboko said. 

Meanwhile, as the Ngurungu Boys prepare for their upcoming fixtures, their mission is to find the goals that had eluded them on field and also ensure that off field, their administrative defense is as tight as their backline.

Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) vice president Nonofo Othusitse has expressed the association’s delight at  Ntungamili Raguin’s historic achievement at the Australian Open Junior Championships 2026. 

“This is a performance exceeding all expectations. We are in awe of Ntungamili’s incredible displays at his maiden Grand Slam,” Othusitse said of Raguin’s fairytale run. 

“With this performance, his life has completely changed, and he has shone a light not only on Botswana but on Africa as a whole.” 

Raguin, who is number 75 in the junior rankings, will be looking to proceed to the quarterfinals when he takes on Luis Guto Miguel of Brazil in a last 16 encounter tomorrow. 

The young ace booked his place in the last 16 after a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory over 15th seed Gavin Goode of the United States at Melbourne Park on Tuesday morning. 

In his debut tournament at the Junior Grand Slam, Raguin won the opening set in emphatic fashion, sending a clear message that rankings counted for little on the court. 

The 17-year-old slowed down slightly in the second set, allowing Goode to level the match with a convincing win. 

However, the third and decisive set turned into a tense battle of nerves and endurance, with Raguin demonstrating remarkable mental strength to clinch it 6–4 and seal a memorable victory. 

Tuesday’s win marked Raguin’s second at the tournament. In the opening round played on Sunday, he defeated Dimitar Kisimov of Bulgaria 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 in another three-set encounter. 

The performance highlighted the work of his technical team, led by coach Killian Sinclair, whose preparations ensured the teenager was ready for both tactical challenges and physical endurance. 

Raguin’s victory over Goode marked his fourth win against a top-30 opponent in the past two weeks, a statistic that has thrilled tennis followers.

Botswana’s on form and rising tennis sensation, Ntungamili Raguin is determined to break barriers and introduce a new name to the world of tennis.

Despite the battle ahead, Raguin is determined to march to the last 16 of the tournament as he faces world no. 22, Gavin Goode of USA at the Australian Junior Open today. Goode is also the tournament seed number 15.

Nonetheless,  is betting on his superb performance that saw him win a hard fought match, defeating world no. 25, Dimitar Kisimov of Bulgaria to advance to second round of the tournament.

He won the first set 7-5 and lost second set to Kisimov 1-6. In the third set, Raguin made a strong comeback and defeated Kisimov 6-4. However, today’s clash also promises to create fireworks, given that Ntungamili will not want to leave any stone unturned. His performance against Kisimov demonstrated resilience and hard work.

Last year, Raguin ranked out of the top 250, a position that did not attract any attention, and by that time, no one thought of a Junior Grand Slam.

In December 2025, he was ranked 168 and made it to the qualifying draw for the Australian Open. 

He has now made it to the second round in his maiden Grand Slam. Botswana Tennis Association vice president Nonofo Othusitse said given his performances recently, they were confident that anything was possible with  Raguin.

“He played and won against players ranked number two, 25 and 29 in the world,” he said. Othusitse said their desire was for Raguin to focus and finish the two sets as it would help him to have time to recover.