18 Feb 2016

Three netball players have been given an opportunity to go for further studies through the Elite Scholarship Fund issued by the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD).

Winnie Hill, Sarona Hans and Onalenna  Phetso will study at different tertiary institutions in Australia. Hill, who left on Wednesday, will be based at the Perth Institute of Business and Technology where she will study for a bachelor of science degree in exercise and sports science. 

Hans, who leaves today, will  study aviation while Phetso will study laboratory medicine.

Botswana Netball Association (BONA) president, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego said her association was proud of the girls, adding that what they like about the Elite Scholarship Fund was that it recognises sport excellence and academic achievement.

Lebotse-Sebego added that the netball fraternity was happy because it was the first time players from Botswana Netball Association (BONA) benefitted from the fund.

The three ladies were part of the 2014 Africa Youth Games team, and they also qualify to represent the country in the Netball World Youth Cup which will be hosted by Botswana next year.

Lebotse-Sebego said she was in communication with Netball Australia and International Netball Federation to help and attach the ladies to different teams.

“Australia is ranked number one in the world and we chose the country knowing that it will help our girls to excel both academically and in their netball,” she said.

Hans said she was over the moon and that while in Australia she would study and play netball at the same time. 

She said when she comes back after completing her studies she would share the netball techniques she would learn in Australia with other players.

She also encouraged other aspiring netball players to work hard so that they could benefit from the scholarship fund  

The Elite Scholarship Fund was established to assist excelling athletes to get government scholarship for further studies provided they meet the established criteria set by the government.

The fund is allocated not less than P1 million every year and is limited to not more than four outstanding athletes every year. Ends