02 Jun 2014

Gone are the days when sport was merely played as a pastime without any meaningful reward with players only driven by passion and dedication.


As for today everyone wishes to become a sports personality, a social activity which was only taken as some form of leisure has been turned into a cash spinning industry with athletes enjoying living standards of repute.


The unfortunate part is that the majority of sport personalities only plays for the sake of bettering their livelihoods and never has time to give back to the industry after retiring by volunteering their skills to the younger generation and insure growth for the various sporting codes.


However Kgalalelo Mokgweetsi cannot let it go, former netball player and administrator finds it hard to retire and focus on other activities not relating to the game she loved the most.

Even though held up by family and other duties in the corporate world, Mokgweetsi still has time to follow netball activities.


Mokgweetsi aged 52 years and a mother of two, Kago aged 34 years and Boy who is 24 is doing all she can to contribute towards the growth of netball.

I am blessed with two children, Kago, my daughter got married recently and I am only left with my son, Boy.

“Ngwanake wa mosetsana o nkgoditse ka go rata batho wa mosimane ene ke motshameki wa kgwele ya dinao, o rata metshameko jaaka mmaagwe.”Boy Mokgweetsi currently plays for Uniao Flamingo Santos.


Mokgweetsi who hails from Serowe said her lifetime attachment to netball started in Francistown where she was born and raised. I started gaining recognition at a tender age as I was given the reins to lead the school team as a captain while doing standard 5.


Nick named “Le a ba akela” Mokgweetsi said she was affectionately given the name because of her tiny figure and light complexion. I was a defender but was also play any other position on the court, she said.


“I can recall very well that while at school, I was the first student from the north region to be included in a netball team that represented the country at BISA games.

The netball team was called Matshwane.” While a student at primary school, Mokgweetsi started playing for one of the reputable netball teams at Francistown called TAFA with the likes of Elsie Selolwane. 
After completing her BGCSE at Materspei, Mokgweetsi moved to Selibe Phikwe as she was employed at BCL as a Management Secretary, but had to travel to Francistown to join her team mates at Mophane netball team.

“I was training on my own while at Phikwe as I was without a team there and travel every weekend to Francistown to join my team mates.”


She later joined NICO but it was only for a short period.

In 1986 Kgalalelo joined forces with Obusitswe Ntsima to form Selibe Phikwe Prisons Netball team, she said adding that the team was doing very well in the league and most of the players were students from Selibe Phikwe Senior Secondary School. 


After some years at Selibe Phikwe, Mokgweetsi moved to Gaborone in 1992 and joined Black Cats now referred to as BDF Cats.

“It was never easy as we did not have sponsors, we used our own funds to travel and honor fixtures. Those who were working were responsible for the expenses of other players who were unemployed at students.”

“Re ne re tshela ka metshelo re rekisa magwinya go thusa bana ba dikolo ba re nne re tshameka le bone le ba ba neng ba sa bereke.” We doubled as players and administrators, she added. 

Mokgweetsi said despite the challenges, players managed to continue doing what they love most driven by passion, determination and love.

We used to play as volunteers without any form of pay, hitch hiking to honor games. Some would arrive late and be allowed to play as they never did it intentionally, she added. 


“We managed to grow because of the challenges we came across and fought hard to overcome. In life understand who you are and what you aim to achieve and work hard.” 


Mokgweetsi did not only excel as a netball player as she was also a marvel to watch on the ramp as a modeler and also an athlete. I used to compete in the 100m and 200m sprints while at school but my passion was more with netball, she said. 


She also recalled that during her childhood she was crowned Miss BDP on two occasions. After moving to Gaborone from Selibe Phikwe I also worked for BDP as a secretary at Tsholetsa House for a short period. I had also participated in the Miss Botswana contest in 1988 and got disqualified along the way as I was expecting my first born child, she said.


Mokgweetsi said taking part in sport was never an easy undertaking as her mother was completely against it.

Narrating the story as to what she had to undergo to become an astute netball player, Kgalalelo lamented that her mother was totally against her playing sports but she gave her an ultimatum that it was better she played netball than resorting to mischievous behavior, hence her mother was forced to accept it.


Mokgweetsi went an extra mile to prove that she doesn’t only have to be on the field to play sports when she extended her love for netball and went into administration, it was not surprising when the sports mogul scooped the title President of Botswana Netball Association (BONA) from 1998 until 2001 and later became the President of Women In Sports Botswana (WASBO) succeeding Dorcus Makgato-Malesu in 2007.


I first joined WASBO as an ordinary member and was later tasked with spearheading the newly established WASBO north region office at Francistown from 2004 until 2006. “I still work with WASBO as a volunteer even though now engaged with the corporate world.”


She first joined BONA in 1994 as Recording Secretary and two years later appointed Vice President in 1996. Mokgweetsi also assumed the position of Zone 6 Development Director in 1999.

One of the highlights of her career in netball was in 1997 when she represented the country at an International Sports Conference in Namibia. 


Mokgweetsi also represented the country as a national team player. Even though retired, Mokgweetsi still follows the national netball team where ever it goes. I stopped playing competitive netball in 1993 after suffering a fractured arm during practice, she added. I am planning to go to the netball world cup in 2015 at Australia, I pray for our national team to qualify, she added.


Besides her love of netball, Mokgweetsi said while growing, she also realised her passion in working with the community as a public relations officer.

“I was developed into public speaker by sport.” Mokgweetsi’s career in public relations kick started in 1994 when she joined BP as a secretary and later assumed position of Personal Assistant in 1996.


While at BP, Mokgweetsi had also at one stage clinched the title for Secretary of the year. She had since left BP after Puma took over in 2008 and at that time she was holding a position of External Affairs and Marketing Executive.


Currently Mokgweetsi is employed as a Community Liaison Officer at Karowe Diamond Mine in Letlhakane.
“In life you never stopped, I grew up used to life in cities and towns but my current employment has challenged me to get used to living with people in the rural community.”


Settling in Letlhakane was a challenge to me, as I was not used to staying for long in a rural area, I used to travel to Gaborone every weekend, I was so attached to modern lifestyle in a city, she added.

“I am for now used to it and I am more attached to the community than ever before, I had never thought that life outside the city will be so exciting, I enjoy the love and respect that I continue to receive from the leadership and community of Boteti.”


I have to admit that I had learnt through my daily interactions with the community, as a liaison officer I am the only link between the mine and the community, she said.

Mokgweetsi said her interaction with the community of Boteti through kgotla meetings has opened a new lease to her life. “I have become one of them and I embrace their cultures”. 


The relationship that she has with the community has even helped her achieve more as she had founded Women Empowerment Network in 2011 with the approval and support of Dikgosi and women.

The network empowers women to take the lead in the society and work towards improving their livelihoods and preparing children for a better future. Ends