Category: Sports

Batswana will have a rare opportunity to watch the country’s elite track athletes compete at the Botswana Athletics National Championship billed for the National Stadium on April 3 to 5.

The national championship will be used to select a final team that will represent the country at the coming Debswana World Athletics Relays 26.

So far, the 4×400 men’s relays team comprising Letsile Tebogo, Lee Eppie, Bayapo Ndori, Collen Kebinatshipi, and Justice Oratile has confirmed participation.

Other athletes to watch are 800 meters runners Ketlhobogile Haingura, Tshepiso Masalela and Kemorena Tisang.

Botswana Athletics Association acting president, Oabona Theetso was impressed that elite athletes would compete at the national championship.

He said it was unfortunate that in the past, most of the national championships clashed with other athletics events in Europe.

Theetso also said this year’s nationals followed a series of athletics events that were hosted by different clubs such as Jwaneng Athletics Association and Twin Towers.

He said the events were used as championship qualifiers, adding that each event at the championships would only admit top 24 athletes. “What I can assure Batswana is that the Nationals are capable of producing good times,” he said.

Theetso said it was important for Batswana to come and support their own, adding that from the ladies category, they were expecting the likes of Same Mohutsiwa, Naledi Monthe and Nancy Buzwane to give spectators value for their money.

Tickets were sold at P50 grand stand, P30 elsewhere and free entry for children under 15 and were to sit at elsewhere stands.

Refusing to be swallowed up by those of other countries represented at the Africa Junior Championships (U18) in Cairo, Egypt, the Botswana flag swung with grace as Ntungamili Raguin once again engraved his name in Africa Junior Championships in the history books of tennis, stamping his authority by winning silver.Ntungamili, the only Motswana competing, won a silver medal in the boys’ singles after fighting bitterly for 3 and a half hours before narrowly falling to Peter Ogunsakin of Nigeria by 6–1, 6–7 (5), 3–6. In the boys’ doubles, Ntungamili and his partner, Ali Missoum of Tunisia were crowned African Junior Champions after defeating Egypt’s Mohamed Sherif and Mostafa Samih 6–3, 6–3 in the final.Botswana Tennis Association vice president, Nonofo Othusitse said they were happy with the player’s performance.“It is no small feat to reach both finals at a continental Championships as one comes head-to-head with some of the finest players who are also highly ranked,” he said.Othusitse said the two medals represent Ntungamili’s continued growth at international events and also demonstrated the talent that he was.“Not only did he secure the silverware but importantly, he secured critical points needed for his journey as he prepares for the junior Grand Slams.,” he said.He said for the association, Ntungamili’s success was a clear indication that it had a great deal of talent within its ranks.It that regard, he said it was important for them to continue investing in grassroots development and also providing opportunities for players so that they could reach their full potentialOthusitse said Ntungamili would remain in Egypt for three weeks, where he would also take part in the World Tennis Tour Juniors events.He will compete in the ITF J300 from March 30 to April to 3, as well as at the ITF J500 from April 6 to 11“We are obviously having high expectations in terms of him achieving podium finishes at these events. We are also excited for him as he has now advanced to playing these top-tier events in the junior circuit.,” he said.Othusitse said the ITF J200, J300 and J500 tournaments were critical, high-level events for juniors as they transition from junior tennis to elite professional tennis.This, he said was because the events gave players the opportunity to compete against the best international competition.Through such events, players also raise ITF World Tennis ranking points which are key to them ultimately improving their world rankings in order to earn direct qualifications for the main draws of Junior Grand Slams such as the US Open and Wimbledon.“This is indeed an exciting year for Ntungamili, and of course Botswana tennis. We are expecting these performances to drive tennis participation and development. We are expecting more resources toward tennis from all stakeholders so that we do not only sustain Ntungamili’s performances but build a sustainable tennis ecosystem that will produce more Ntungamilis,” he said.

Tennis star Omphile Bothasitse and Oratile Nowe of athletics were standout winners at the 4th Annual Vunani Botswana Women Sports Awards after being crowned Sportswoman of the Year with Disability and Sports Woman of the Year award respectively.They both walked away with P20,000 each on Friday night.The ceremony, held to celebrate excellence in women’s sport, also honoured athletes, administrators, officials and media professionals across multiple categories.In other awards, Same Mohutsiwa received the Young Promising Athlete award. Grace Mmolai was named Coach of the Year, earning P10,000 for her outstanding work in developing athletes.The Female Team Kata in karate was named Team of the Year, taking home P25,000 for their performance and consistency.In administrative and special recognition categories, Game Mompe was named Administrator of the Year for contributions to cycling, earning P10,000.Molefhi Obenne received the HeForShe Award alongside P5,000 for promoting gender equality in sport.Volunteer of the Year went to Gorata Kokole, who also received P5,000, while Gaone Poane was crowned Umpire of the Year, earning P10,000.The media fraternity was also well represented with Kabelo Dipholo of The Voice Newspaper named Sports Journalist of the Year, while Tiroyaone Keboi of Radio Botswana was recognised in radio and Tshegofatso Malepa of Botswana Television took the television award.Kennedy Ramokone of Mmegi Newspaper was named Photographer of the Year. All media winners received P5,000 each.Speaking at the event, Assistant Minister of Health, Lawrence Ookeditse said women’s sport in Botswana continued to grow, with female athletes increasingly proving their ability to compete and excel on global platforms.He cited international figures such as veteran athlete Amantle Montsho as examples of women who had helped place Botswana firmly on the world-sporting map.Ookeditse however raised concern over the persistent pay gap between male and female athletes, questioning the fairness of unequal pay despite equal effort and performance.He called for urgent reflection and action to close the disparity. He commended sports administrators, parents, athletes, and sponsors such as Vunani for their continued support in developing women’s sport, noting that stronger partnerships were key to increasing investment and rewards for athletes.The assistant minister added that the awards went beyond recognition, serving as a platform for economic empowerment and contributing to the wider creative and service industries involved in sport. The chief executive officer of Inside BW Women Sports, Kesego Kebelaele-Okie, also praised stakeholders for their support, noting that the awards, now in their fourth year, continued to elevate the voices and achievements of women in sport.She said gender inequality remained a challenge and urged corporates to invest more in grassroots programmes for young girls to strengthen future national teams and improve international competitiveness. “The stories of women in sport must continue to be told and celebrated, as they reflect resilience, excellence and determination in the face of challenges,” she said.The event concluded with a strong call for continued investment, collaboration and inclusivity in sport, as stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to growing women’s sport in Botswana and ensuring greater equality across all levels.

A total of 16 male and female teams are expected to battle it out at the second edition of the Jwaneng Netball Extravaganza scheduled for this weekend. The tournament will also feature teams from South Africa and eSwatini in an endeavour to promote regional cooperation and the spirit of sportsmanship between the countries.The event forms part of the broader objective of transforming Jwaneng into a sporting hub and developing sport talent as an economic diversification strategy.“In addition to promoting physical activity and promoting skills development, there is a strategic intent of turning Jwaneng into a sporting hub and netball is among the key sporting codes which can contribute to that overall objective, hence why we are hosting tournaments of this magnitude,” Jwaneng Netball Club chairperson, Sebataladi Ramoitoi said in an interview.He said the tournament would commence with two games on this evening, followed by an official opening by the Jwaneng Mine General Manager, Goitseone Gadifele on Saturday, while the Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng was expected to grace the closing ceremony on SundayMeanwhile, a fierce battle is expected between the host, Jwaneng Netball Club and Police, who finished on a 37-20 score board in last year’s inaugural encounter. The two teams further took their rivalry to the 2025 Find the Ball Tournament where they finished on first and second position respectively. The unstoppable Diamond Girls are also currently leading the Division A log, just ahead of another strong contender, BDF.In the men’s category, revellers will witness whether BDF Cats will redeem itself by closing the slim margin that enabled Police to walk away with the trophy in last year’s competition, ending the tournament at 37-36 in favour of Police.

A total of 16 male and female teams are expected to battle it out at the second edition of the Jwaneng Netball Extravaganza scheduled for this weekend. 

The tournament will also feature teams from South Africa and eSwatini in an endeavour to promote regional cooperation and the spirit of sportsmanship between the countries.

The event forms part of the broader objective of transforming Jwaneng into a sporting hub and developing sport talent as an economic diversification strategy.

“In addition to promoting physical activity and promoting skills development, there is a strategic intent of turning Jwaneng into a sporting hub and netball is among the key sporting codes which can contribute to that overall objective, hence why we are hosting tournaments of this magnitude,” Jwaneng Netball Club chairperson, Sebataladi Ramoitoi said in an interview.

He said the tournament would commence with two games on this evening, followed by an official opening by the Jwaneng Mine General Manager, Goitseone Gadifele on Saturday, while the Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng was expected to grace the closing ceremony on Sunday

Meanwhile, a fierce battle is expected between the host, Jwaneng Netball Club and Police, who finished on a 37-20 score board in last year’s inaugural encounter. 

The two teams further took their rivalry to the 2025 Find the Ball Tournament where they finished on first and second position respectively. The unstoppable Diamond Girls are also currently leading the Division A log, just ahead of another strong contender, BDF.

In the men’s category, revellers will witness whether BDF Cats will redeem itself by closing the slim margin that enabled Police to walk away with the trophy in last year’s competition, ending the tournament at 37-36 in favour of Police. 

The ObedThe Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, will Saturday host the Mukuru Four-Nation tournament where the senior national football team, Zebras, The Warriors of Zimbabwe, The Flames of Malawi and Chipolopolo of Zambia will battle it out for supremacy.

First to draw blood will be The Flames of Malawai taking on Chipolololo of Zambia at 3pm, followed by the Zebras and The Warriors of Zimbabwe at 6pm.

The third and fourth placed games will be played on Tuesday at 3pm, while the final game will follow at 6pm.

In an interview, Zebras coach, Morena Ramoreboli said they were ready for the tournament, adding that players were excited to get the opportunity to represent the country.

He further noted that the tournament was important for the team, saying they had learnt from their AFCON experience, as they did not have enough international experience.

Therefore, he said they needed some games to improve their skill, adding that the tournament would serve in that regard.

“This FIFA break we will manage to play two games, test different systems and it will help us to build momentum and also to make sure we push towards direction,” Ramoreboli said.

For his part, Botswana Football Association general manager, Monnakgotla Mojaki said the draw went well adding that the preparation for the tournament were also going well.

Mojaki also highlighted that the tournament would be sponsored by Mukuru for two years. He encouraged The Zebras supporters to come in large numbers and rally behind the boys to give them morale as they compete in this much anticipated thriller tourney. 

Debswana has been unveiled as World Athletics Relays title sponsor after announcing a P16 million funding. The financial support saw the event changing the name to Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.

Debswana, the country’s main player in diamond trade, has over the years, been the engine that drives the country’s economy, enabling it to attain middle income economy.

Speaking at the sponsorship launch on Tuesday, Debswana chief executive officer Andrew Motsomi said through the partnership, Debswana aimed to utilise the platform to revive the diamond market.

Motsomi said the aim was to promote the natural diamond story to the world, highlighting the critical role diamonds played in transforming lives, supporting communities and driving sustainable economic growth in Botswana. He said the partnership represented a powerful opportunity to amplify Debswana’s global brand presence.

Motsomi said as the world turned its attention to Gaborone, the moment would be leveraged to tell the authentic and compelling story of natural diamonds, a story rooted in positive impact, sustainability and national development.

Furthermore, he said the sponsorship aligned with Debswana’s broader brand and national storytelling objectives, particularly in advancing Botswana’s visibility on the global stage and reinforcing the value proposition of natural diamonds in an evolving luxury market.

He said the World Athletics Relays were expected to attract approximately 1 735 athletes and officials, alongside hundreds of technical personnel, volunteers and thousands of international visitors.

According to the World Relays, he said the event would deliver an unprecedented global exposure, with over one billion online impressions, coverage by more than 150 international broadcasters and participation from over 120 accredited international journalists and photographers.

“The event programme will feature world-class relay competitions, including the men’s and women’s 4x100m, 4x400m, and mixed relay events and is expected to attract top athletes from around the world,” he said.

Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng said Debswana’s extraordinary contribution was a bold expression of confidence in Botswana’s future and in the transformative power of sport.

He said it reflected Debswana’s longstanding commitment to national development, excellence and responsible partnership.

“It is a clear demonstration that when Botswana rises, we rise together. As a result of this landmark sponsorship, this global event will now proudly bear the Debswana name, an enduring symbol of our nation’s resilience, ingenuity and progress,” he said.

Kelebeng said the naming rights partnership firmly positioned Debswana at the centre of what promised to be one of the most successful relay events in the history of the competition. 

World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026 organisers are impressed with ticket sales for the world showpiece planned for May 2-3.

Currently, statistics show that Batswana account for 70 per cent sales, followed by South Africa. 

Other countries such as Canada, the United States, Switzerland and Kenya have also recorded significant sales.

Tickets were made available to the general public from February 23. 

World Relays Gaborone 2026 ticketing committee chairperson, Naledi Lemogang said in an interview that they received more bulks sales from companies than individual buyers.

She also said organisers were expecting purchases from international athletics associations as well as individual foreign spectators.

“This will not be an ordinary track event; it will be more of a festival, with entertainment before the main competitions. We therefore encourage people to come and experience Botswana as the first African country to host the World Relays. We are also appealing to stakeholders and companies to purchase tickets in bulk and also groups of people, they can simply go to World relays Facebook page for all the information or visit the National Stadium where the world relays offices are for more information,” she added. 

She confirmed that tickets were still available and urged the public to purchase them through the official World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026 website.

To boost sales, she said ticketing agents would soon be deployed in various shopping malls, where they would assist customers with online purchases.

“We have also introduced cash payment options at our activation points and through ticketing agents. Additionally, discounted student tickets are available at P250 for day one and P250 for day two.”

Despite concerns that ticket prices may seem steep, she said it was crucial for local supporters to fill the stadium, especially as countries such as Jamaica, Kenya and the United States were expected to bring their fans.

Both the National Stadium and the University of Botswana stadium will be ready for the Lefika International Relays on March 28.

The stadia will be also used for the upcoming World Athletics Relays and were expected to be certified by the world athletics body before the May 2-3 event.

This was said by World Athletics Relays Gaborone26 chief executive officer, Moses Bantsi during a press conference hosted by Lefika Athletics Club, ahead of the Lefika International Relays.

Also, at the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two organisers, and Bantsi said they found it fitting to sign a MoU since the Lefika Relays would be used as a dry run for the World Relays.

Already, the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 have signed an MoU with the 2026 Botswana Golden Grand Prix planned for April 26.

He said they would use the two events to gauge their readiness for the World Relays.

While eight countries had confirmed their participation in next week’s event, Lefika Athletics Club chairperson, Thari Mooketsi, said they were still faced with financial challenges as they only managed to attract a few sponsors.

The eight countries which had confirmed participation, he said, were Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Poland.

He said their intention was to host a memorable event. Therefore, he has called on the nation to support them by buying tickets on time and attend the event in large numbers.

He said the objective of hosting the Lefika International Relays was to bring Southern Africa and Africa together as well as to show the world that Botswana was an athletics hub.

Botswana Athletics Association acting vice president Oabona Theetso said, as a federation, they were happy that one of their clubs was hosting a high-profile meet, which was also used as a qualifier.

He said the qualifying period for the World Athletics Relays would close at the end of this month, saying while some nations would be using the Lefika Relays to prepare for the May 2-3 spectacle, others will be vying for qualification.

“This is also an opportunity for teams and athletes to showcase their talent on March 28,” he said. BOPA

Francistown will next week host a football competition dubbed Four Nations Tournament comprising Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

The competition which promises to be a thrilling regional showdown, will be played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium from March 28 to March 31.

Speaking in an interview, Botswana Football Association (BFA) general manager, Monnakgotla Mojaki said preparations were going well and the draw would be March 24.

The aim of the tournament is to give the teams a chance to play at least two matches during the FIFA break as per FIFA guidelines.

It will also serve as a platform for the Botswana team coach to give all players including new ones, an opportunity to have game time.

Mojaki said they chose to play the stated nations since they were tough opponents and top teams with quality players, adding that the tournament might in future be an annually event. He encouraged football fanatics to come in numbers and enjoy good play.

Meanwhile, the Zebras Coach, Morena Ramoreboli, has unveiled the preliminary squad for the Four Nations Tournament.

Goal keepers: Ramoreboli called in Thabo Motswagole from Gaborone United, Cedrick Ramojela Tonota FC, Goitseone Phoko Jwaneng Galaxy, Karamelo Kgosipula Township Rolers and Kenneth Mmoko Sua Flamingoes.

Middlefilders: Theo Kgosikwena Santa Green, Thapelo Babedi BDF X1, Tony Mogotsi Nico United, Tsholofelo Speakson TAFIC FC, Kamogelo Moloi Gaborone United, Philip Kaku Township Rollers, Theo Shadikong Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Monty Enosa Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Bofelo Motswagole Sua Flamingoes, Nonofo Dikutu Matebele FC, Omphile Ramoagi GaboronreUnited, Keitumetse Samunzala Jwaneng Galaxy, Shaun Theron TAFIC FC, Thabo Marumo Extension Gunners, Gape Thibedi Dinare FC.

Attackers: Boikobo Matakule – Police XI, Losika Ratshukudu – NK Slaven Belupo, Omphile Phale – Dinare, Thero Bubi – Black Lions, Kotso Radithongwa – Jwaneng Galaxy, Tshepo Keselebale – Jwaneng Galaxy Thapelo Balatheng -Township Rollers, Thomama Kayaba-Tafic FC, Boikobo Rannyena-BDF XI, Godfrey Tauyatswala-Gaborone United, Morgan Dick- Calender Stars, Mmoloki Galetshetse- Jwaneng Young Stars, Eric Ookame- Mouloud Oujda.

Defenders: Larona Modisaemang-Jwaneng Galaxy, Thabo Babusi-Orapa United, Tebogo Kopelang -Jwaneng Galaxy Benson Mosokobanji-Santa Green, Ricky Rathogo – Orapa United, Utlwang Ramakathi-Township Rollers, Tlamelo Kolagano- Jwaneng Galaxy, Botsile Sakana -Orapa United, Tirelo Ratanang-Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Mompati Tshoganyetso-Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Floyd Motheo-Matebele, Brain Tafhi-Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Botshelo Motsheja – Morupule-Wanderers and Doctor David -Black Lions.