02 Apr 2023

Jwaneng Mine has been commended for its commitment in nurturing sport development.

The mine received praises following its sponsorship of equipment worth over P100 000 towards the Re Ba Bona Ha Bowling Centre launched in Jwaneng, Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) chairperson, Marumo Morule, emphasised the importance of nurturing sports talent from a young age saying it would not only develop elite athletes, but create employment.

He also hailed the Re Ba Bona Ha programme for its impact on sport development.

He urged Botswana Bowling Association (BBA) and the Jwaneng leadership to ensure that the programme reached other communities in the peripheries.

“Let us take bowling to other areas around Jwaneng, let it not be a sport for Jwaneng only,” Morule said.

However, Morule said even though he appreciated the commitment by the bowling community to grow the sport, shortage of facilities was still a challenge across the country.

This, he said, resulted in the sport being confined to a few towns only.

As a result, he appealed to the political leadership and other stakeholders to advocate for the construction of sporting facilities in various areas across the country.

He urged children to balance sport and education since they both contributed towards building a bright future.

Morule also thanked parents for allowing their children to explore their talent with the possibility of developing careers in sports.

For his part, Jwaneng mine senior mining manager-technical, Segolame Ntwayagae, said Debswana was committed to unearthing talent with the Re Ba Bona Ha programme having impacted over 17 000 athletes since its inception.

He revealed that consultations with BNSC were ongoing in an endeavour to improve the programme for an even more long-lasting impact on the athletes. He noted that grassroots development in sports created an alternative career pathway, while at the same time keeping children away from delinquency and social ills.

“The investment in sport is not in vain, as sport plays a crucial role in shaping the youth, not only does it provide a career pathway, but also keeps them away from delinquency and engaging in other social ills,” Ntwayagae said.

He urged the Jwaneng community to support initiatives intended to develop the sport in their town, through participation and any other supporting gestures.

For his part, BBA president, Kitso Robert, said plans were underway to establish Bowling facilities in Maun and Serowe, with the objective to take the sport to other areas.

He said since it started in Botswana, bowling had grown over the years and impacted positively on athletes.

He said they had various programmes intended to develop athletes at different stages and categories.

Jwaneng mayor, Olga Ditsie, said the launch resonated with Jwaneng’s vision of becoming a sport hub.

She commended Debswana and BBA for giving children an opportunity to nurture their talents and possibly develop them into careers.

“Starting from grassroots development guarantees continuity,” she said. ENDS