08 May 2016

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development (MoESD), Moiseraele Goya has implored the Confederation of Schools Sports Association of Southern Africa (COSASSA) team to lift the country’s flag high.

The team, which is made of 60 athletes and 30 technical officers leaves for Namibia today to compete in the COSASSA games which will run from May13-16.

Speaking at the team’s send off on Friday,  Goya urged the athletes to not just honour the games but compete with their peers and demonstrate that Botswana is capable.

He said although the team has a target of 10 medals, the athletes should aim higher and accumulate as many medals as possible.

 Goya said he appreciated that COSASSA provided peers with not only a platform to compete but also mingle with each other.

He noted that sport does not have territorial boundaries as it provided mutual understanding and enhanced unity in Southern Africa.

The assistant minister said sport helped keep at bay social ills, instilled self-discipline among the athletes and contributed to nation building.

Goya encouraged the young athletes that in order to become renowned sport personalities, they should be dedicated and loyal.

He said sport played a vital role in the economic diversification process as some countries relied on it as a source of income for development.

Goya commended the teachers for their efforts in sport, adding that their participation was an indication of patriotism and implored them to continue with the good work.

Botswana Primary School Sports Association (BOPSSA) president, Busani Sigweni said the target of the team was 10 medals. The team last participated in 2013 in Zimbabwe and brought home seven medals.

BOPSSA vice president (technical), Selebatso Keabetswe said he was optimistic the team would do well because it was injury free.

Keabetswe said BOPSSA was the foundation of sport in the country but people tended to overlook that and only considered the grassroots to be above 13 year-olds.

The director of basic education, Ndondo Koolese said the MoESD had allocated funds of over P1.6 million to support BOPSSA and Botswana Integrated Sports Association as it considered sports an investment. ENDS