26 Jun 2025

Fifteen promising footballers have been selected to participate at the The Showcase event in Madrid, Spain from July 23, 2025.

Initially, five players were to be selected. However, after witnessing the rich football talent in the country, the number was increased to 15.

“At the beginning, we wanted to select only five players but during the selections we realised that there is more talent and we decided to increase the number to 15,” said Girona Futbol Club Academy coach, and Union of European Football Associations  Pro License Certified coach, David Ibáñez Ruano when unveiling the players in Lobatse yesterday.

The Showcase Madrid dubbed; An Opportunity of a Lifetime will be held at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas, which are the Spanish national football team facilities. According to coach Ibáñez Ruano, The Showcase event gave an opportunity to young and talented footballers with dreams of becoming professional footballers. 

“We believe there is a lot of talent in other countries but it is hidden and we are on a mission to find it. The three days that we spent here, we worked a lot, it was cold but we enjoyed a lot. We took them out of their comfort zone,” he said.

He said Botswana was the first country to host the scouting talent event in Southern Africa and hopeful of good working relationship going forward.

 “We hope to go forward together and we will have more editions to give opportunity to more young talent,” he said. 

He encouraged the players who did not make it to work hard to perfect their skills, as they would have more opportunities in the future, and more chances of undergoing selections next year. The players who impressed the selection team are Tata Keitseng, Seabelo Nthela, Kealeboga Garenamotse, Ted Moranyane, Kutlo Thobega, Adriel Lebekwe, Bakang Seikano, Keadirile Motladiile, Sibusiso Chape, Lefika Ngwako, Larona Segome, Keotlhomile Motshudi, Lionel Magede, Mosa Molatlhiwa and Abaki Makhalani.

 “It was not easy, but we made it because we believed in this dream that it can change the lives of the young men and women. We are starting with men and in future we will have women,” said event organiser, executive director of Africa Must Arise Initiative (AMAI), Tumisang Keitseng. 

She said to see the young men making it to Spain was a dream come true as the journey started in 2023 and they had encountered a lot of obstacles along the way, but they never gave up on the dream of collaborating to bring The Showcase to Botswana. Keitseng appreciated government and all sponsors, who made it possible for Lobatse to host the event and encouraged members of the public to keep on supporting them. 

Lobatse Member of Parliament, Kamal Jacobs encouraged the young men to savour the moment, as it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, which not everyone could clinch. He impressed upon those selected to go to Madrid to perform exceptionally well in order to stand a chance to be signed by some of the elite clubs. He further advised them to be good ambassadors of Botswana while in Spain through respectful behaviour, and to focus on honing their skill and talent. 

“This is Botswana’s time to export talent. Represent the country well to the best of your ability,” he urged. 

He emphasised the need for them to stay focused in football while in Spain and refrain from being derailed by neon lights and other destructions, adding that they must stay away from drugs and substance abuse and do only what was expected of them. Jacobs also appealed to the business community to sponsor the selected young talent to realise their dreams. 

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, South Africa High Commissioner to Botswana, Thaninga Shope-Soumah who was part of the sponsors of the event, congratulated Botswana for the noble opportunity. 

“In the whole of Southern Africa, it is Botswana that has been chosen for The Showcase, so I am really grateful because we are brothers and sisters. We must never forget the role that Botswana played in South Africa’s liberation struggle. We need to acknowledge that Botswana played a fundamental role. These young men are the future of our continent and not only Botswana, so let us support them to contribute to the development of Africa,” she said. ENDS