13 Oct 2026

The discontinuation of school sports has contributed to the decline in Botswana’s volleyball standards, with the country falling from Africa’s top 10 to positions below 20, International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) executive vice president Daniel Molaodi has said.

Speaking at the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) annual general meeting in Gaborone on Saturday, Molaodi said the absence of school sports had created a significant gap in player development, calling for urgent interventions to restore Botswana’s standing among Africa’s top-performing volleyball nations.

He said the lack of school-based volleyball programmes and coaches had weakened the sport’s development structures, making it necessary to introduce deliberate programmes to identify and nurture talent.

Molaodi said Botswana needed to take stock of its performance, noting that the country was now losing to teams it previously competed against successfully.

He called for renewed commitment to grassroots development, saying restoring Botswana’s former standing would require a strong foundation for future generations of players.

On international participation, Molaodi warned clubs and players against crossing borders to compete in Zone IV tournaments without obtaining the required International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

He said failure to comply with international transfer regulations could have serious consequences for players, clubs, the federation and the country, including possible bans and sanctions.

Molaodi stressed that every team must have a federation of origin and that all players must be registered with the FIVB registration system within the stipulated timelines.

He also stressed the need to register all volleyball officials, including coaches and referees, saying compliance was essential for effective administration of the sport.

Although acknowledging the challenges associated with meeting the requirements, he said Botswana had previously been a pacesetter and should strive to maintain that reputation through proper administration and adherence to international standards.

He further urged the BVF to appoint heads of delegation and team managers who understood the rules and regulations governing international volleyball to ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary sanctions.

Meanwhile, BVF president Odisitse Keotsene said the federation would prioritise school volleyball development and financial sustainability as it seeks to rebuild the sport following a year without activities in 2025.

Keotsene said school sports structures, suspended since 2020, had disrupted the talent pipeline, prompting plans to reintroduce volleyball in selected schools through an Adopt-A-School initiative involving clubs.

The federation also plans to introduce mini volleyball for children under 13 and strengthen coaching and refereeing through certification programmes.

To support its development agenda, BVF intends to diversify sponsorship, reduce reliance on government grants and strengthen partnerships with sports organisations and educational institutions.

He said the federation’s 2026 - 2030 plan also targets improved facilities, including dedicated beach volleyball courts, and greater commercialisation of the national volleyball league.

The initiatives are intended to improve competitiveness, strengthen governance and establish a sustainable foundation for volleyball development in Botswana. ENDS