17 Oct 2013

The Botswana National Sport Council (BNSC) handed over sport equipment to Artesia Junior Secondary School, which was in 2011 established as a centre of sports excellence.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony at Artesia on October 16, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, David Ratsatsi, said government made it clear that exceptionally gifted youngsters should be identified at an early age to accelerate their sport development process.

Ratsatsi said through this scheme, government aimed to bring within schools, a system in which talented athletes were identified, developed and celebrated. He said his ministry had, over the years, played a major role in sport development in the country as more funding was put into BISA activities.

“We have greatly contributed to the development of sport officials, be it administrators, officials or coaches,” he said. He said through school-based sports, talent had been identified and developed through BOPSSA, BISA and BOTESSA activities and a living example is that of a young gifted girl who is only 16 years old but already a “powerhouse” in the international athletics arena.

The 16-year-old is Galefele Moroko, who has set a new record in COSSASA games and went on to win gold and best female performer at the international schools sport federation World Athletic Championships in Czech Republic in June 2013.

Ratsatsi assured BNSC that the ministry would continue to play a role in this project, including facilitating access to school facilities, ensuring that schools were adequately staffed with competent teachers and transferring students to designated centres of sport excellence.

Ratsatsi said he recognised the pivotal role of parents and therefore called on all of them to give attention to the endeavours of their children in sport. Khan Masau, the school for Artesian Junior Secondary School, said when receiving the volleyball and football equipment that he was happy that his school had the requisites to enhance its sport performance.

Masau said his school was known for performing well in sport, especially football, as some football luminaries, among them Kabelo Dambe of Platinum Stars went to school in Artesia where their talent was developed. He said he believed that trained teachers would be brought in to make sure that students were well coached to build a better future for sport in Botswana.

The Botswana Volleyball Federation received P165 000 for six volleyball centres of sports excellence while the Botswana Football Association received P175 000 for four centres. Ends