18 Sep 2013

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi says government is doing its best to promote sports in the country.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Palapye on September 17, Minister Kgathi said government established development programme grounds in Molepolole, Masunga and Maun as well as grounds in Lobatse and Francistown which should be utilised to develop young people into well rounded sports men and women.

The government, he said, also identified 14 schools to become centres of sport excellence which will be aimed at unearthing talent and developing students doing well in sports into a strong team that could bring positive results for the country.

He said the initiative came about after realising that two-week camps did not provide adequate training for young people to compete in international games. He said schools that were designated as centres of excellence were meant to enhance training of students who displayed good performance in sports.

Mr Kgathi further said since the initiative was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, the arrangement was for coaches to be transferred to those schools.

He said government had done its part by providing necessary infrastructure but it was now upon Botswana National Sports Council to ensure that associations affiliated to it made use of structures put in place by government to unearth talent.

He informed residents of Palapye, particularly parents that sport is important and that young people can earn a living through it. “Sport is a billion dollar industry,” he quipped.

He urged the youth to engage in sporting activities and arts through constituency tournament arts competitions. In addition he said an initiative such as “My Star” gives the youth an opportunity to showcase their singing talent and afford the winner the opportunity to develop his or her singing career by sending the winner for further training.

He said the country’s stars Nigel Amos and Amantle Montsho have put the country in the map by winning international athletics competitions as such this country needs more stars to fly the country’s flag at international games.He therefore urged Palapye youth to take advantage of opportunities availed to them. Ends