09 Feb 2016

The Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) has embarked on a campaign to search for talent in Ngamiland District. The council is targeting youth aged between 15 and 17 years who have completed their junior secondary schooling.

In an interview, BNSC sports development officer, Odirile Sibanda said they are currently focusing on athletics and volleyball.

He said negotiations to designate Maun Senior Secondary School as a centre for excellence for athletics has been finalised. 

He said about 20 athletes from the northern region would be admitted at the school this year. 

He added that athletics in the region has been dormant despite it being home to many athletics clubs. 

The centre for sport excellence programme is funded by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. It is focused on improving the performance of selected athletes.

He said Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School will also be turned into a centre of excellence for athletics this year, bringing the number of such facilities to three across the country, including Good Hope Senior Secondary School.

He said they intend to appeal to the business community, individuals and government departments to support sport in the region.

He noted that distance has been a barrier for many teams to take part in national leagues. 

He said sports programmes targeting children aged eight-13 years are also running at the Maun Sports Complex under the Re Ba Bona Ha and My African Dreams initiatives. 

The Re Ba Bona Ha programme exists to identify talent among children for development while My African Dreams focuses on volleyball development. ENDS