10 Aug 2025

Botswana Football Association (BFA) has pledged full support for the school sport programme, which was launched in Lobatse last Thursday.

Speaking at the official opening of the BFA 2025 Ordinary Annual General Assembly held in Jwaneng on Saturday, BFA president, Oabile Babitseng noted that they were prepared to support the initiative through training of coaches and any technical support as required. “We will do our part in making sure that we train coaches and do what we need to do,” he said.

Babitseng noted that such support would go a long way in contributing towards the growth of grassroots development as well as the effective nurturing of sport in the country. He further underscored the need for stakeholders to unite towards sport growth.

“Sport is teamwork, hence we need each other to deliver what we envision and aspire. We need to make it easy for our athletes to grow and for those in sport business to prosper,” he noted. Notwithstanding, Babitseng appreciated efforts by Jwaneng leadership, particularly Jwaneng Mine, towards growing football and sports in general. He noted that Jwaneng was the backbone of Botswana football, through provision of facilities and related support.

In his welcome remarks, Raphalane Court president, Kgotlaetsile Motsamai applauded BFA leadership and their stakeholders for commitment and dedication towards growing football in Botswana.

He said that their efforts resonated with Jwaneng community’s aspirations of developing sport potential to diversify the national economy. Motsamai said nurturing sporting talent could go a long way in creating employment locally and exporting talent to other countries.

“Sport is not only meant to create socialisation but also to create employment opportunities to augment the government’s efforts. Botswana has the potential to export talent to other countries,” he noted. Subsequently, he challenged BFA and stakeholders to establish a football academy in Jwaneng, whose mandate would be to nurture talent for players, coaches and other partners in the sporting fraternity. The theme for this year’s AGM emphasised the growing importance and future of women football and school sport in Botswana. ENDS