06 Nov 2017

The patron of Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) has urged the business community to sponsor rugby and help the sport to develop, as it has the capability to change the lives of Batswana and the country’s economy.

Speaking during the first BDF XV Rugby Club awards ceremony recently, Colonel Isaac Kgosi, who is also the director general of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS), said more support was still needed from the corporate world to grow the sport.

He said he was honoured to have been invited to officiate at the very first awards ceremony hosted by the club since its inception in 2000.

“Allow me also to extend a big thank you to the BDF director of sports, Lieutenant Colonel Phefo for all the support he has given to the league and preparations for tonight’s presentation,” he said.

Colonel Kgosi said the 2017 rugby season proved to be a success for BDF XV, which is popularly known as the BDF Cheetahs.

“When this season started there were always doubting Thomases and those doubting Thomases never thought at the end of the season BDF would have won the tournament. And nobody could predict confidently and conclusively on who would win the league,” said Colonel Kgosi.

He noted that there were a number of formidable competitors that the BDF Cheetahs were to face, naming the likes of UB Rhinos and arch rivals Gaborone Hogs.

Colonel Kgosi also said it was a tough season, and that he was happy that the military boys and girls emerged victorious from the battle.

“You have made the Botswana Defence Force proud and I’m happy to say BDF clubs have always shown persistence and perseverance to win cups despite the anxious moments when BDF Cheetahs lost to the Jaguars in the last game of the season,” he noted.

He said although the BDF Cheetahs were riddled with injuries and red cards, they still managed to pull through.

“I would really like to advice you that soldiers should not be given red cards. They should be disciplined and it does not matter what happened. That you should correct from today onwards,” he said.

“Despite these misfortunes, it is amazing that the team emerged victorious,” he said, further congratulating the team coach for a job well done.

He noted that the coach’s vision and hard work have one again culminated in another success story.

“I equally extend my sincere gratitude to the BDF rugby management and players for their persistent efforts as well as the commanding officers of the various units who released their men to play for the BDF Cheetahs,” he added.

Colonel Kgosi said as the patron of BRU, he would like to extend his gratitude to BDF for always supporting the national rugby team, the Vultures.

“As you know most capped rugby players are from BDF XV Rugby Club. Their footprints date back to the early 90s. BDF players were part of the team that went for the Sevens tournament in Senegal and the coach too was from BDF,” said Colonel Kgosi.

He said the majority of the players were also from BDF, and that the selection was not based on favouritism, but rather on hard work and dedication to the game of rugby.

“Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate the women’s rugby side which has over the years grown from strength to strength,” he said.

Lance Corporal Ketshidile Matenanga from the men’s side won the best player award and P700.

Oratile Motladile was crowned the best player from the women’s side and won P500.

Lance Corporal Sengwatse won the player’s player of the year award and most consistent player and in the process pocketed P400 and P300 respectively. ENDS