20 Sep 2016

Debswana Diamond Company has donated boxing equipment, to a boxing centre based at Ipelegeng Junior Secondary School worth P23 000.
Speaking during the Debswana Re Ba Bona Ha Boxing Skills Festival on September 17, head of risk management, at Debswana, Tefo Setlhare appreciated the relationship between the company and the grassroots development, which dates back to 2008.
He said Re Ba Bona Ha had only football  at its inception, but now has codes such as boxing softball, basketball, karate, athletics, volleyball, tennis and judo.
Setlhare said grassroots programmes were imperative as they gave the youth a unique opportunity to be identified, groomed, nurtured and equipped with the right skills. Ever since the inception of the programme, he said the country has produced good boxers who had put the country in the world map.
He implored all relevant stakeholders to ensure that they safeguard youth talent throughout the years for them to remain focused.
He also commended Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) for their efforts in engaging qualified trainers to mentor the children through the programme.
Ipelegneg School head, Margret Mfofi said their school started the programme in 2013 with only 20 children but throughout the years they increased and now they had more than 40 children.
BoBA president, Dr Thato Patlakwe lauded Debswana for their benevolence and appealed to them to consider extending their sponsorship so that they could continue nurturing talent at grassroots level.ENDS