09 Jan 2020

Jackalas No. 2 in the North East District has a unique advantage over other villages in the area, thanks to its magnificent sports field.

For a small village like Jackalas No 2, it is an impressive facility comprising volleyball, netball and tennis courts as well as football pitch. 

Younger and older generations now have a place to play any sport, but football dominates. The village hosts second leg of the Debswana First Division North league.

Football continues to grow in Jackalas No 2, giving residents like Gideon Jama an opportunity to enjoy sport.

“It is just nice to see (soccer) here in the village,” said Jama, who is also da Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson.

“It appeals to people here and I think that one of the things that the village wants to do is not only have their own community, but integrate neighbouring villages,” he said.

Jama explained that the idea to build a sports field in the village could be traced as far back as 1976, when the first village team, Home Defenders, used the school ground to play its Christmas tournaments.

The tournaments were played by teams from Siviya, Themashanga, Senyawe, Mabudzane and Tshesebe.

“We sold the idea of building a sports field to the then village chief, who wholeheartedly supported it and we applied for land and we got a plot, where the new sports field now stands”, he added.

He further explained that the interim committee then requested P50 donations from the community, but not many were on board, so only a few contributed and the money was diverted to build houses for extension workers in the village. He said 10 years later, they applied for an extension and succeeded.

After introduction of the Constituency Development Fund, the village tapped into it to fulfil the long-time dream.

“We tapped on it and the first project was to build a screen wall around the sports field, which cost us around P300 000,” he added.

He said part of the money came from contributions from the community, which stood at P26 000.

Jama said the project was finished on time and on budget because of the commitment they had as a community.

However, all is not yet done because the village development committee wants to install power lights and construct changing rooms and a ticket house. The committee has already connected water to the facility.

“We have a promise from one of the villagers to donate a tower light before the end of this year and some of our Christmas tournaments may be played under the flood lights, if things go as planned,” he added.

The sports facility has so far hosted two important events, including the 54th Independence celebrations, which also marked its official opening on September 30, 2019.

Jama said the village was beginning to reap the benefits of the facility as evidenced by the collection of gate takings from first division matches.

In addition, he explained that providing facilities for casual and organised sports was one of the major ways the village contributed to the collective health of the community.

“Our sports grounds are for casual users, sports clubs and personal or group fitness trainers, while schools, clubs and other organisations that need to use a formal sports field must obtain a sports permit,” he added. He said the facility also hosts weddings and church crusades.

Jama said the agreement is that they collect 100 percent of the gate takings, adding that the sports facility has potential to become a major source of revenue, and bring about economic and social benefits to the community.

Kgosi John Jackalas hailed the construction of the facility as a welcome development, adding that the facility is at the epicenter of the development of the village as it started by creating employment for the locals and now the village, through the VDC, is beginning to reap fruits.

Meanwhile, one of the Jack 2 soccer stars and Francistown City Greens player, Oabile Chuma said the opening of the ‘new stadium’ is a significant event in the community and an exciting opportunity for those who attend events.

He said it is befitting to have such a sports field because Jackalas No.2 has produced a number of soccer stars in the likes of Lebogang Khupe, Maitseo Chuma and Ofentse George, who play for Rolling Stars.

He said football legends such as Hemen Foster, Nkosiyabo Nkomazana and Khulumani Jama cannot be left out as they have played for bigger teams such as Centre Chiefs.

Others who own teams include Robert Jama, who owns Bendy Gold Football Club, Sevvy Toitoi who owns Chinukila Pejo FC, Foster Jackalas of Home Defenders DC and Letsogile Moalosi’s Emang Jalo FC. Ends