09 Oct 2026

The Royal Aria Indoor Sports Complex will this weekend become a meeting point for basketball players from five countries as the Khumo Ya Batswana Bots60 Basketball Tournament brings teams together under the theme: One Game. One Nation.

Running from October 9 to 11, the tournament forms part of celebrations marking Botswana’s 60th anniversary of independence and seeks to demonstrate how sport can foster unity and strengthen ties among nations.

Teams from Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Lesotho will compete in six categories: U16 Boys, U16 Girls, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, Women and Men.

Tournament director, Khumo Chingabe, said the regional representation was one of the tournament’s major strengths, giving players an opportunity to experience different styles and levels of competition while interacting with athletes from diverse cultures.

“It gives our players an opportunity to compete against different styles, cultures and levels of basketball,” she said.

She said teams were selected based on their commitment to basketball development and readiness to participate professionally and respectfully.

Organisers also considered age categories, competitive levels, geographical representation and teams’ ability to meet registration and administrative requirements.

The approach, she said, was intended to strike a balance between established teams and those that could benefit from greater exposure.

For Chingabe, a basketball coach and development advocate, the tournament was the fulfilment of a vision to use sport as a vehicle for development, unity and opportunity.

“I wanted to create a platform where young players, especially those at grassroots level, can experience quality competition, meet players from other countries and gain exposure beyond their usual environment,” she said.

The tournament also carries a personal significance for Chingabe as it is dedicated to the memory of her late parents, whose legacy she said had strengthened her resolve to create opportunities that can positively impact young people.

She encouraged aspiring organisers not to wait for wealth, influential connections or large organisations before pursuing their ideas.

For Botswana’s players, Chingabe said the tournament offered a combination of development, exposure and high-level competition.

“Playing against teams from neighbouring countries will allow local athletes to test themselves against styles and levels of basketball they may rarely encounter at home,” she said, adding that such exposure was important for U16 and U18 players, as competitive experiences at that stage could help shape their confidence and future development.

Beyond the scoreboard, she said the tournament was expected to promote discipline, teamwork and confidence while giving players a better understanding of what it meant to represent their clubs, schools and country.

“I want local players to leave this tournament thinking; ‘I can compete at this level, and I can go further,’” she said.

As the tournament concludes on Sunday, Chingabe said success would not be measured by winners alone.

While competitive games and smooth organisation remain important, she said the true measure of success would be what participants learnt, new connections, greater confidence, exposure and a renewed desire to continue playing basketball.

She said the tournament would be a success if a young player discovered their potential, a coach identified a new opportunity, teams built lasting relationships across borders and participants left convinced that Botswana could host quality regional basketball events. ENDS