November 12, 2019, 4:42 am
![StanChart employees cycle Gabs to Joburg for charity]()
17 cycling enthusiasts – all Standard Chartered Bank employees – today began a 400km cycle challenge from Gaborone to Johannesburg to raise funds for charity under the Bank’s recently launched Futuremakers initiative. Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, is the Bank’s global initiative to tackle inequality and seeks to promote greater economic inclusion for young people in communities across the globe. Futuremakers supports disadvantaged young people from low-income households, particularly girls and people with visual impairments, to take part in programmes focused on education, employability and entrepreneurship. The initiative’s goal is to raise USD 50 million (through fundraising and Bank-matching) between 2019 and 2023 to empower the next generation to learn, earn and grow. In August this year, Standard Chartered Bank Botswana – through Futuremakers - donated USD 50,000 (approximately BWP 550,000) to Young Africa Botswana (YAB) to run the tailor designed Futuremakers programme. The 17 cyclists hail from the Bank’s offices in Botswana, South Africa, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Zambia collectively known as the Southern Africa cluster. This employee-led initiative was developed by the team who sought to find a way to merge their passion for cycling and the desire to make a contribution to Futuremakers. In his remarks, Standard Chartered Botswana…
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November 14, 2019, 4:50 am
![Rakgare]()
Various sports leaders from across national sport associations have hailed the appointment of Tumiso Rakgare as the minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development with open hands. This follows the formation of new government after the country went to the polls three weeks ago. Rakgare will be assisted by Buti Billy. Rakgare comes at a time in which many things are in disarray in the local sporting fraternity, key amongst them being limited funding, poor or unavailability of sports facilities. Key amongst some of his first assignments will be appointing new chairperson and deputy for Botswana National Sports Commission(BNSC) since those who have been at the helm of the organization have been on interim basis. From the onset Rakgare was in pole position to grab the appointment as his name kept cropping up ever since winning the elections. At the age of 36 most believe he is the suitable man for the job considering his age as well as experience with the sporting fraternity .Though his educational background says nothing about sports administration he was a sports journalist of repute during his days behind the microphone. His time with sports date as far as 2004 until 2014 where he…
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November 14, 2019, 4:58 am
![BoKA targets 2024 Commonwealth champs]()
Just months after hosting the 2019 UFAK Junior and Senior Championships in Gaborone, Botswana Karate Association(BoKA) is contemplating on bidding for the 2024 Commonwealth Karate Championships. According to the available information the association is currently working on a smooth proposal which they are to submit to the mother body, Botswana National Sports Commission(BNSC) for endorsement .Should BNSC okay the bidding, BoKA will then throw in their name in when bidding process is opened in June 2020.The winning host nation is expected to be announced three months later in September 2020. As it stands Botswana ‘s only competitors are Sri Lanka and Malaysia who also want to take the biennial tournament to the Asian continent . However the main question that remains is, does Botswana meet the requirements to host the tournament of this magnitude considering that the Commonwealth Federation consists of great membership from across the world. However from the look of things it seems like Botswana meet all the requirements which have been set aside for a country to host the competition. The requirement set include that the bidding nation should be a member in good standing , have enough hotels to accommodate all the 53 member countries, have…
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November 14, 2019, 5:00 am
![Kedidimetse vander Westhuizen,]()
Dog Trainers Association -Paw Buddies Botswana in collaboration with Botswana National Olympic Commission (BNOC), has launched a fund raising campaign to help support team Botswana in preparation for Tokyo 2020 games to be held in July. Business entities and individuals have been urged to adopt an athlete through donations in cash or kind, focussing on among others accommodation for athletes at guest houses or lodges for the duration of their training, transportation to and from training for the athletes as well as healthy food items for the athletes. Further to this, Paw Buddies have scheduled K9 displays in different public places around the country. Club Manager, Kedidimetse vander Westhuizen, through a statement on Thursday, urged the business community and the public to help the two bodies’ initiative by making donations. He said activities’ for the K9 displays will be, but not limited to, displays on dog obedience, protection work and freestyles. "Paw Buddies and the BNOC are committed to helping team Botswana succeed at Tokyo 2020 and it is our hope that all Batswana will rally behind the team and have a hand in this success. Any other donations that would help this cause are highly welcome," vander Westhuizen.
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November 14, 2019, 5:03 am
![P1.5m Mascom Top8 Season 9]()
The 2019/20 season of the Mascom Top8 has been officially launched and as per the norm teams which finished on the top eight of the national league last season will once again line up in contest for the lucrative cup tournament. However this season’s edition comes up with improved cash incentives which are likely to serve as an enticement to teams which failed to qualify for the tournament to pull up their socks for next season. Key amongst the improvements is the prize money which has been increased from P1.3 million to P1.4 million- a significant rise of P100 000. As it stands Mascom Top 8 remains one of the most lucrative sports tournament in the country in terms of sponsorship and prize money. In addition man of the match performances will now attract a prize of P5000 which marks a P1000 increment from last season prize. With the tournament set to trade under the new tagline of #Dzo Duza kwazo kwazo, a new trophy for the competition also comes as a new package for the tournament. The player of the tournament prize have also been increased from P50 000 to P55 000. However Jwaneng Galaxy is expected to start…
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November 18, 2019, 12:25 am
![Botswana in Copa Coca-Cola Africa Cup Tourney]()
The Pan-African tournament is a showcase of skills and talent aimed at developing young footballers into the next generation of soccer stars The second edition of the COPA Coca-Cola Africa Cup will be taking place this year in Thika, Kenya from the 2nd to 5th of December 2019. Kenya are the defending champions after winning the inaugural tournament last year in Nakuru. The Botswana team composed of participants from various secondary schools which took part in the COPA Coca-Cola games is hoping to build from last years’ successful experience when they managed to come third, reach the semi-finals where they lost to Nigeria before edging Zambia in the third place match. The tournament themed ‘Bigger for Better’ seeks to promote a level playing field by bringing together players from different backgrounds and cultures for one goal; be the African champion. In line with this year’s theme, the COPA Coca-Cola tournament was more than football in all participating schools across Africa. It sought to impact behavior change by introducing plastic collection as part of educating them on the importance of a cleaner environment by taking care of plastics disposal. The campaign is still going on in Botswana areas surrounding Gaborone. In…
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November 18, 2019, 2:10 am
![Ghana Eagles to meet Botswana Vultures in historic Rugby Africa Cup]()
Ghana Eagles to meet Botswana Vultures in historic Rugby Africa Cup The new Rugby Africa Cup format season 2020 starts this weekend in Ghana with a battle of the birds of prey The first Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) 2020 encounter kicks off on Saturday, 23 November at 11 am local time (13:00 CAT) at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana. This RAC 2020 kick-off is remarkable in two ways. It is the official start of a new competition format on the continent and Ghana is not historically a rugby nation. Yet, Ghana’s Rugby is developing strong. After having hosted the Bronze Cup and winning it last year, Ghana has hosted the Tri-nations Cup this year, and now sets the stage for the inaugural RAC 2020. Herbert Mensah, President of Ghana Rugby is thrilled about the upcoming match: “Ghana are the underdogs as Botswana has a long rugby history and is geographically surrounded by rugby giants. But Ghana is coming in for battle and prepared in the right way. The settings are all correct and we are massively excited to host the match. Khaled Babbou, the President of Rugby Africa (RugbyAfrique.com), and his team that have put this new format…
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November 25, 2019, 4:39 am
![BNOC Chief Executive Officer Tuelo Serufho]()
Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics games slated for Japan, signs of discord are already visible in the local sporting fraternity with Botswana National Olympics Committee(BNOC) no longer in charge of the funds for the games- however the organization as the sole custodian of Olympics games in Botswana will remain in picture providing technical advice and assistance. To date associations like Botswana Athletics have already shown their displeasure in the media accusing BNOC of not supporting them in the preparations towards the Olympics. However BNOC are not at fault since their hands are tied and does not have the financial might to help federations. Speaking in a press briefing to update the media on the progress of the preparations on Thursday BNOC Chief Executive officer Tuelo Serufho said it was very critical for the preparations to step up – however he noted few changes which he shared that have caused some hiccups. “To date the funding for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games has not been availed to the BNOC, the money has been given to Botswana National Sports Commission(BNSC) to disperse to national federations for them to implement programmes towards athlete preparations to qualify for the games. This has created…
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November 27, 2019, 2:16 am
![Makwala Challenge Cup 2019]()
Christopher Nyanga, Publicity Secretary – Makwala Challenge Cup said the Makwala Challenge Cup executive committee is currently involved in talks with some big corporates in this country for purposes of sponsoring the one-day tournament. Details will be released once the talks have been finalized. "We therefore, invite all residents of Tutume and surrounding villages to come in large numbers to this one day event that only happens once in a year," said Nyanga. The organizing committee of the annual Isaac Makwala Challenge Cup in Tutume is happy to announce that the Tjinyuni babili tournament in Magapatona ward will host the third edition of the Makwala Challenge Cup in Tutume on 30 December. The Makwala Challenge Cup, whose patron is Isaac Makwala, came about because of the extra ordinary performance of Isaac Makwala at the 2017 World Athletes competitions in which Isaac Makwala made our country proud by running alone and winning despite the negative treatment he was given. Residents of Tutume involved with festive tournaments then decided to honour Isaac Makwala by designating 30 December of every year as a Makwala day in Tutume in which all football tournaments converge in one area and play against each other. The tournaments…
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November 27, 2019, 5:33 am
![Kanye Stadium on the pipeline]()
After long delays, government will soon construct a mini-stadium in Kanye village in an effort to facilitate sport development in the country, Parliament has been told. Responding to a question from Kanye North MP, Thapelo Letsholo, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare said the Kanye is part of the 10 localities identified for the development of mini-stadia. Letsholo has asked Rakgare to update Parliament on the construction of the long promised Kanye Stadium, to state the scope of the stadium and key delivery dates, and what influenced the decision to build a mini-stadium instead of a sport complex as in other major villages in Botswana. He also wanted the minister to explain what has been the cause for the delays. Rakgare said during NDP 8, government had plans to build sport complexes in district headquarters across the country. "Such facilities were built in Molepolole, Maun, Serowe and Masunga. Other such facilities, including the one planned for Kanye were deferred indefinitely due to financial constraints," said Rakgare, adding that the project to develop sport complexes was later discontinued due to budget constraints. "Their (sport complexes) maintenance has also proven to be very high. The option of…
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December 1, 2019, 11:07 pm
![Braun]()
As Botswana began their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign earlier this month, there was a piece of history for the Zebras as they had a female assistant coach. Dr Carolin Braun, from Germany, moved to Botswana in February for two years to assist in football development, to educate coaches, identify talent and work with women's football, under the German Olympic Sports Confederation. But new Zebras coach Adel Amrouche has decided to also use her in the national team coaching set-up as his assistant coach, and she started with games against Zimbabwe and Algeria. Braun is highly-qualified, with a PhD in sports science and a Uefa A Coaching Licence, and she is pleased to have her new duty with the national team. "Of course for the world it's still something new, and at first probably everyone is looking and asking, 'is this really a woman', but for me it's the same, it's football and I love working with the women as well as working with the men," Dr Braun told BBC Sport. "It's one game and it's even better if we get rid of any kind of thinking that it's not for girls. "I don't know if any other…
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December 1, 2019, 11:40 pm
![Makhwengwe]()
Gaborone United(GU) has appointed Philimon Makhwengwe as the new club coach following the departure of Nikola Kavazovic who spent some few months with the team before he was forced to resign due to a hostile supporters of the team. Just few months after being in the dugout for Moyagoleele Kavazovic is already out of the club after his life was threatened last weekend by multitudes of GU fans following the team’s 1-0 loss to Jwaneng Galaxy during the Mascom Top8 tournament. The Serbian gaffer was whisked away by the police from the Galaxy stadium on Sunday however midweek he tendered his resignation at the club Just this week news were rife that Security Systems ‘s high flying coach Daniel Nare might be headed to GU, nonetheless it seems like the move did not materialize even though it was reported that the gaffer was offered a very lucrative contract. Makhwengwe has been with the GU development side after leaving the senior team at the end of last season to pave way for the employment of a new coach. Therefore he will hold the fort until the end of the 2019/20 season before the management can decide whether to look for a…
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December 12, 2019, 1:14 am
![Nijel Amos]()
Funds to aid Olympics Preparations Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has received a whooping P2.5 million to use towards the preparations for the upcoming 2020 Olympic games. Botswana have only three athletes who have qualified for the games being Nijel Amos for 800m,Christine Botlogetswe and Galefele e Moroko for the 400m. However with the athletics season currently on break (off season) BAA is running agaisnt time to make sure they qualify as many athletes as possible with the deadline set for June 29 next year. According to BAA president Botlhale Phaphane, they have many activities lined-up to prepare the already qualified athletes as well as to help more to qualify. With the season expected to start early January, BAA will have to take advantage of many competitions around the world to help more athletes qualify. “The preparations are going on but rather at a slow pace. In November we took a break so that the athletes can rest after a lengthy season which ended in October. We have planned on a training camp from December 9 and then break up for Christmas. With this camp we are planning to put in a good number of athletes because many of them are…
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December 12, 2019, 1:24 am
![Tafic Football team]()
The Week 11 of the BTC premiership was marred by controversies following the cancellation of a match and the indefinite postponement of another. The Jwaneng Galaxy/Tafic match which was scheduled for Obed Chilume Stadium was called off after it was determined that the stadium was not available for use by the two teams on Wednesday. According to the available information, the facility was long booked by the Special Olympics team who were using the stadium for the whole week. Though the issue was to be solved some days before the kick-off day – it wasn’t the case as both teams arrived to an empty dark stadium of Wednesday night. However, though it is reported that the Premier League office made an effort to avert the situation, sources claim that from the beginning there was no booking for the stadium. According to Tafic chairman Carlos Sebina; they are not to blame for the circus. “The procedure for booking playing facilities is different from those of those of First Division. Here In Premier league it is the BPL which is responsible for securing the venue then as club we will then pay the stadium afterwards. But it seems like it wasn’t the…
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December 12, 2019, 1:26 am
![Refilwe Gabatshwarwe and Ohemelo Khetho]()
She has taken the chess game by storm Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Refilwe Gabatshwarwe has taken the playing boards by storm this year. Despite being just 14 years, the Moshupa native have already achieved a lot and so there is more on her plate. This year she shocked the chess playing locals by winning the Metropolitan Ladies National championships upstaging big names like WIMs Kgalalelo Botlhole and Boikhutso Modongo. That was the beginning of new era for the young Gabatshwarwe who is now on a mission to win anything on offer. WCM Gabatshwarwe started playing chess at the age of 10 while doing standard four at Bokaa Primary School under the tutelage of Moroka Motlogelwa of Moroka Chess Academy. Though she rose to fame this year due to her exploits Gabatshwarwe proved her prowess from her early days. So far the Mmanaana Junior School student has a record of 20 gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals from her short playing career. However most of her achievements are mostly from development tournaments. However, this year was her best. Gabatshwarwe rose to the occasion early this by winning the Air Efficiency Year Opening tournament in January. From there, she never looked…
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![Branch wins stage 2 of Dakar Rally]()
By Reuters Argentine driver Orlando Terranova led the Dakar Rally after the second stage in Saudi Arabia on Monday while double Formula One champion Fernando Alonso smashed his Toyota on a rock and fell hours behind. In the motorcycle category, Botswana's Ross Branch won the stage while Britain's Sam Sunderland was runner-up and took over at the top for KTM. Alonso was running fourth in his Hilux pickup after 100km but the Dakar debutant was then sidelined with suspension damage and a broken wheel on the 367km stage from Al Wajh to the desert city of Neom. The Spaniard, with co-driver and five-times Dakar winner Marc Coma, had been 11th overnight but plunged down the standings as they waited for an assistance truck. The pair finally got moving again after a two and a half hour delay. Terranova, driving a Mini, finished second in the stage won by Toyota's South African Giniel De Villiers to carve out a lead of four minutes and 43 seconds over Spaniard Carlos Sainz in a Mini buggy. "It was very tricky, especially towards the end when we lost a lot of minutes. We had trouble finding our way and had to turn back two…
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January 12, 2020, 10:09 pm
![Saul Chaminuka]()
Trouble seems to be looming at Tafic Sporting Club after it emerged that the club has suspended three of their senior players this week. The trio is –Rocky Nkwe, Buyani Kgomotso and Captain Uyapo Tibathuwe –who received their suspension letters on Wednesday evening. However, the number is likely to increase to six if news from sources close to the developments is anything to go with. Though other two names are still withheld some high profile names keeps on cropping in relation to the suspension. According to a letter which this publication is in possession of Tibathuwe has been suspended from work until further notice pending investigations which the club says they are embarking on . Due to the suspension the captain is further barred from attending the training sessions of the club. “To be honest I don’t know exactly what I have done wrong because nobody has ever called me for a hearing or complained about anything or any bad behaviour. I was just handed the letter on Wednesday evening after training so I’m just left with assumptions,” said Tibathuwe narrating the ordeal .When quizzed if he is going to appeal the suspension Tibathuwe said he is not going to…
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January 13, 2020, 10:52 pm
By JEFF KINYANJUI mobile.nation.co.ke Former Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall has been linked with the vacant job at Botswana top-tier side Township Rollers. The tactician was at the National Stadium Sunday afternoon with some of the club’s officials to watch as the team beat Notwane 3-1 in a match played in Gaborone. Leading Botswana football portal, Killer Pass has revealed the tactician is close to inking a deal with the club. If appointed, Nuttall will take over from Thabo Motang who has been the stand-in coach at the club. Nuttall left Gor Mahia in 2016 to join Zamalek as an assistant coach. He was to later join Hearts of Oak in Ghana in 2017 and Sudanese side El Hilal Ol Obeid, but he has been out of work since leaving the club in 2018. He was also linked with the Zambian national team job.
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January 23, 2020, 7:11 am
![Munyere]()
Musa Munyere is a Candidate Master in waiting following a great performance at the Africa Youth Chess Championships last month in Namibia. The 13-year-old Setlalekgosi Junior School Student managed to win a bronze medal in the Under 14 category after registering six wins, one draw and two losses. Having just started chess in in 2018 Munyere‘s improvement up the ladder is so fast and he promises to be one of the young players who will dominate the chess boards this year. His achievement made him a CM elect, a title which he will obtain when he reaches the minimum rating of 2000 that’s when the title will be officially approved .Munyere, who is also the product of the Francistown School of Chess, currently has a good rating of 1642 which means his chances of reaching the 2000 mark this year as long as he will be kept busy with tournaments. Munyere’s great performance at the Africa Youth Chess Champs is a great milestone considering that the competition was his first major tournament and he was not playing as part of the national team since he was self-sponsored. According to his trainer Thapelo Molefe, the young boy has been showing great…
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February 2, 2020, 11:21 pm
![Matsheka]()
Minister of Finance and Skills Development, Thapelo Matsheka will be delivering his maiden budget speech following his appointment last year post general elections. But as always people from all corners of life will be looking with a hawk’s eye to see how much each sector or ministries will get. The Botswana sports fraternity just like all the other divides will be expecting much more so that this is one of the busiest years ever since it the Olympic year. As much as Botswana athletes are currently struggling to qualify for the summers games which are slated for Tokyo ,Japan there are many issues that many wish can be addressed by the 2020/21 financial budget and projections. Though it is very impossible for the ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture development to get a lion’s share or at least get in the top 5 ministries with the largest shares most sports administrators are of the believe that issues of improved funding for sports, building of sports facilities around the country and improving national teams welfare should be addressed greatly in this financially year. Another important aspect of this financial year is that with less than four months to the Olympics,…
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