16 Mar 2017

Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYESCD), Mogomotsi Kaboaemodimo has implored the youth to embrace constituency tournaments to realise their potentials for the betterment of their lives in future.

Speaking during the constituency sport tournament awards ceremony held in Lobatse recently, Kaboaemodimo said the ministry is tasked to improve the livelihoods of the youth through different programmes which their main target includes those who are unemployed.

He lauded the government for having devised some programmes that would assist them to keep them engaged and avoid indulging in anti-social activities that could ruin their future.

He said during the inception of the constituency tournaments programme, there were only 26 000 participants but the programme has drastically improved to the largest number of 80 000 participants.

He said that called for intensive monitoring and implementation of the programme as it was an indication that the programme is serving its purpose.

He said through these different programmes aimed at assisting the youth, they would be able to unearth their different hidden talents and allow them to outgrow their skills that would earn them fortunes when they compete amongst other athletes across the continent.

He said it was through similar programmes that the country unearthed today’s gems in the likes of Nigel Amos and other athletes who managed to participate at different national and Olympic Games and hoist the country’s flag high.

He encouraged the youth to take these tournaments seriously as they might help to lure sponsors to different sporting codes that would in turn help to grow the country’s economy.

Kaboeamodimo mentioned that, athletics would be added into the existing sporting codes next year, and that alone also marks the growth of the programme.

He said the relevant national bodies like Botswana Athletics Association and other relevant national sport bodies would work closely with MYESCD to ensure that they identify the qualifying participants to increase the numbers of those who can compete in international games.

On other issues he said, the tournaments also helped small scale businesses as they managed to cash in some dues to grow their businesses as well as marketing their businesses to other citizens from different regions.

Moreover, he lauded all those who emerged victorious and encouraged those who failed to score high to up their games to become the champions in the next coming years adding that those who have won cash prizes should utilise the money carefully to improve their teams and not forgetting their team members’ welfare.

In his welcome remarks, Lobatse deputy mayor, Francis Mokwena lauded the host, (Lobatse MYESCD) and their supporting departments from other regions for their aptitude to hosting such games in a suitable way.

He said it takes great determination and collaboration amongst different stakeholders to ensure that they outdo themselves to set standards for their companions in the future to follow suit to ensure that the programme is given all it deserves to continue adding value in the lives of the youth.

Mokwena lauded all the participants to work hard on their weaknesses and compete better in the next coming games.

Meanwhile, in football SABC football team from Molepolole emerged victorious, Sky landers from Sese emerged second runner ups, while Eastern Sweepers from Maun scooped position three.

In netball, Ghetto Fans from Francistown were crowned the winners followed by Delta Queens from Maun and Dintshang team from Gaborone came third.

For volleyball men category, Block 8 team from Francistown got the first position, followed by Ekondoboro from Shakawe and lastly Kasi Six from Selebi Phikwe when they scooped position three.

As for the volleyball teams for ladies category, Eastern Heroes from Maun emerged victorius followed by Kasi VI from Selebi Phikwe and lastly Block 8 team from Francistown settled at the third spot.

All those who emerged victorious bagged an attractive cash prize of P9900, position two pocketed P7700 and position three bagged P4000 respectively in all sporting codes. ENDS