23 Jun 2026

Youth athletes from different sporting codes on Saturday converged at Shashe River School in Tonota for the one-day Sports Exchange Development Coaching Clinic organised by Yung Genius Karate Academy.

Participants shared experiences and explored ways of developing sport collectively for the growth of the industry.

One of the instructors, Shashe River School boxing coach, Victor Mhalnga, said the Sports Exchange Development Clinic was important because it created a platform for athletes and coaches from different sporting disciplines to learn from one another.

He said different sport codes instilled discipline in different ways, making it beneficial for athletes to gain broader perspectives and experiences.Mhalnga expressed hope that future editions of the clinic would attract more sporting codes, noting that attendance had been lower than expected despite extensive publicity.

Founder of Yung Genius Karate Academy and host of the event, Sensei Otsile Motsamai, said the clinic aimed to identify and nurture talent across various sporting disciplines.
He said similar clinics held in Francistown in 2024 and Semotswane in 2025 had been successful.

Although this year’s event did not secure sponsorship, organisers remained committed to its objectives.

Sensei Motsamai said Tonota and surrounding areas possessed considerable untapped talent that required structured support and development.

He said there was a need to establish a centre in Tonota dedicated to identifying and nurturing talent across different sporting codes to help young athletes realise their potential.

Sensei Motsamai added that the clinic would be held annually, as bringing together athletes from different sporting backgrounds, helped expose and develop talent at grassroots level.

Speaking at the same event, Tonota Youth Coordinator, Refilwe Banda noted that Botswana had the potential to become a sporting hub across various disciplines.

Banda therefore encouraged parents to continue supporting young athletes despite financial challenges.

She also called on the business community to support grassroots sports development, particularly as efforts continued to address the return of school sports programmes.

Businesses, she said, could contribute through in-kind sponsorships such as providing bottled water or simply showing support by attending sporting events.
Banda said discipline played a critical role in shaping athletes into future coaches and sports administrators capable of contributing meaningfully to the country’s sporting landscape.

One of the participants, rising boxing star and Shashe River School learner, Kealeitse Ready, commended the coaching clinic, saying it provided athletes with an opportunity to interact, exchange experiences and gain a better understanding of one another’s sporting environments.

He said the clinic also enabled athletes to observe how discipline was practised across different sporting codes. ENDS