25 Feb 2019

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Dikgang Makgalemele has urged constituency sport tournament players to utilise government programmes to improve their lives.

Makgalemele was speaking at the National Constituency Sport Tournament held in Jwaneng over the weekend, where teams from seven regions competed in football, netball and volleyball.

He said government departments offered various programmes that could improve the lives of young people and encouraged them to make hay while the sun shines.

“We have different programmes for affirmative action for young people and every ministry has a potential to develop a young person. I encourage you to utilise these programmes because you qualify for most of them, save for old age pension and World War Veteran allowance,” he said.

He said as the tournament grew, players should incorporate the business aspect to empower themselves.

He encouraged them to consider businesses such as cooperatives, which could add values to their lives.

Makgalemele also underscored the need for personal development as back-up adding that long-distance learning could develop them.

He commended players and their leaders for their commitment to the tournament, which has grown over the years.

“When the tournament started we only had football but we have seen it grow to include netball and volleyball.

Our dream is to see the constituency players being signed by big teams in the elite league,” he noted.

Jwaneng mayor, Obed Monkge applauded participants for good sportsmanship throughout the tournament. He said everybody was a winner because their participation was appreciated.

He said Jwaneng leadership wished for the town to become a sport hub and be able to host various sporting activities.

Meanwhile, Mmutlane Young Stars obtained first position in the football category after beating Black Army 5-1, while SABC Black Bucks of Molepolole settled for third position. The latter won 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out with Francistown’s Tumediso Young Strikers after the match ended with a two-all draw.

In Netball, Ghetto Ferns emerged the champions, followed by Maun’s Delta Queens while Wizard of Bobonong got position three. Mikasa Queens of Gaborone got first position ahead of Ekondomboro of Shakawe and Real Shooters of Molepolole respectively in the Ladies Volleyball category.

In the men’s category, Extreme of Serowe walked away with first position, followed by Block 8 of Francistown and Ekondomboro respectively.

Teams that got first position walked away with P9 900 prize money, a trophy and medals, while second position got P7 700 and medals and third position got P4 000 and medals. ENDS