01 Jun 2025

Hosting the Davis Cup is not solely the responsibility of Botswana Tennis Association or the tennis community, but it is a national endeavour that calls for the collective effort of every Motswana.

Speaking at a press conference in Gaborone on Friday, Botswana Tennis Association’s president Oaitse Thipe said it was therefore important that the citizen, media, corporate sector, tourism and hospitality industries, the sport community and government, to work together to ensure the success of the event. The 2025 Davis Cup Africa Group V event will be played at the National Tennis Centre in Gaborone from June 23 to 26. 

“This marks the fourth time in our nation’s history that we have been entrusted with hosting this prestigious international tennis event, following our successful hosting in 2001 and 2006 for the Group III Euro/African Zone, and most recently, the Africa Group V event in 2024,” he said.

Thipe said the event would bring together 15 nations, Botswana as the host, alongside Ethiopia, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mozambique, Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Mauritania, Lesotho, Djibouti, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and Libya. The gathering of talent from across the continent, he said, was a testament to Botswana’s growing reputation as a capable and a welcoming host for international sporting events.

Thipe said the benefits of hosting such a high profile events included increased international exposure, positioning Botswana as a premier destination for global sporting events and attracting future tournaments and visitors. He said they also had economic impact, adding that 14 visiting nations would boost the transport and hospitality sectors through flights, accommodation and meals.

Thipe said the event would also create employment opportunities, including the engagement of nearly 60 local officials and other short-term roles to support the event. To achieve this, he said, it was important for the media to champion and promote the event, ensuring widespread awareness and excitement. He said it was also important that the corporate sector partners with them to provide the necessary resources to make the event a success.

“The nation to show up in numbers at the National Tennis Centre, filling the stands with the vibrant spirit of Botswana. Together, we can showcase our nation’s warmth, capability, and passion for sport on an international stage,” he said

Botswana National Olympic Committee president Botsang Tshenyego said Botswana had been recognised as a hub for hosting. Tshenyego said the Davis Cup started in 1900 and had seen a lot of transformation, and some of the take away and benefits accrued, were social and economic. ENDS