11 May 2016

Former students of Molefi Secondary School who completed their Cambridge in 1981 (MSS81) organised a sport coaching day at the school as a way of giving back to the institution that gave them education.

In an interview during the sport coaching day at Molefi Senior Secondary School on Saturday in Mochudi, one of the organisers, France Mabiletsa said when they met as 1981 schoolmates they decided on many activities they would like to undertake as a way of giving back to the community.

He said among the activities they decided on was a sport coaching day where sporting codes will come to Molefi and teach the students the tactics and techniques of their sport.

Mabiletsa said this will therefore accord the students the opportunity to follow the sport of their choice while at the same time the sporting codes themselves will be searching for talent and identify those who they want to nurture and develop.

He said their main objective was to keep students busy with sport so that they don’t wonder on the streets and end up on engaging in undesirable activities that destroy their future.

The former boxer said when the students are tired they will go home and rest and so will have time to study which will at the end improve their passing rate.

Mabiletsa further said sporting activities are important because some students who may not do well in academics can earn a living from sport therefore when they are nurtured from a young age they will excel at the national and international competitions. 

“This is our first project as MSS81 but we intend to do it annually if things go as planned. We shall also have other projects we will look into as a way of contributing to the future of children and the community at large.”

He said if the sporting coaching day can be undertaken by other communities then grassroots talent will be identified at a young age and that will benefit sport in Botswana while at the same time individual lives are changed.

Various sporting codes that came to the sport day applauded MSS81 for this initiative more so it helps them to identify talent which will later be included to take part in national competitions and national teams.

The President of Botswana Boxing Association, Thato Patlakwe said they are happy that organisers came up with this initiative which will help them identify talent among the students.

“We have already identified a few students who are talented and they are going to be incorporated at different clubs and later represent the country at national level.”

Patlakwe said their concentration as the association is on development and growth of boxing, therefore this gives them an opportunity to spread. 

He further said through their sport development officer they help trainers do the right thing.

Botswana Rugby Association’s Coach Seabe Gabatadiwe said they likewise are glad to be taking part in the sport coaching day as they teach students the rules of the game and learn the techniques necessary for their growth.

He said through sport, students can earn a living and represent the country at national level but they must learn things the right way. 

“This has provided an opportunity for rugby association to teach students together with their trainers the law of the game and how they can defend themselves to avoid injuries more so that rugby is a contact sport”, said Gabatadiwe.

Adam Mostafo from Botswana Cricket Association said they have seen more numbers in cricket development especially at government primary schools but they are now coming to secondary schools.

He said the sport coaching day helps identify students who can later feed into national teams like the under 17 and 19 national teams.

Mostafo added that they will continue to partner with the school so that all can participate and help students excel in both cricket and education.

Among other sporting codes that participated during the sport coaching day are athletics, badminton, softball, basketball, karate, chess, football, netball, table tennis, volleyball and performing arts. ENDS