13 May 2019

About 200 pupils from primary schools in Maun took part in a mini-rugby tournament organised by Bhubesi Pride Foundation and Botswana Rugby Union (BRU).

Bhubesi Pride Foundation is a team of international rugby players and coaches eager to contribute to development of rugby sport in Africa.

The foundation offers a highly established framework, which links up with government and international schools, rugby unions and multi-national businesses to deliver meaningful sports development programmes.

Therefore, the mini-tournament was part of the Bhubesi programme and prior to the event, the coaches embarked on a week-long coaching clinic for pupils and coaches.

In an interview, BRU sports development officer, Fredrick Kebadiretse, appreciated efforts by the Bhubesi Pride Foundation towards rugby development.

The initiative targeted pupils aged between 9-14 and coaches visited Moremi, Boseja, Gxhabara and Thito primary schools.

Kebadiretse said they valued such contribution since it had brought excitement to the youngsters and the coaches.

He noted that the union noticed improvement since they started working with Bhubesi foundation.

“Rugby is not a popular sport but we are happy that since the implementation of the initiative, we have seen numbers of players increasing and we have also noticed a difference in skills development amongst players,” he added.

Kebadiretse thanked the coaches and schools that made the event a success stating that the tournament was well planned. 

The coaches would visit South Africa and back in Gaborone in July this year. 

Bhubesi Pride project manager, Sofia Domingos, said the foundation was a group of volunteer coaches that carried out annual coaching expeditions, supporting rugby and community development in schools and community centres in nine countries across east and southern Africa.

She said the coaches imparted rugby skills and life values such as professionalism, discipline, respect and integrity, adding that, “it is important that we lay the foundations early in order to impart skills to the children, not only playing skills but life skills as well”.

Domingos also pointed out that since they started working with BRU, they also realised that the number of pupils grew annually noting that they were also pleased to see girls coming forth.

She said they were informed that in Botswana, it was a challenge to recruit girls to the sport and praised BRU for making efforts to bring them on board. 

Domimgos stated that normally after a week-long coaching clinic, they organised a mini tournament so that pupils could showcase what they learnt. 

Meanwhile, in the junior category, Jaguars team from Moremi emerged victorious in the finals beating Saxons from Boseja 2-0 while in the senior category the Hawks from Gxhabara were crowned champions after outclassing their rivals Stingers still from Gxhabara 1-0.

The foundation also donated equipment so that coaches could continue introducing children to rugby. Ends