13 May 2024

Kachikau Village Development Committee (VDC) has donated a home and away kit, nets and balls worth P35 000 to the village football team, Kachikau Sporting Club aka Vultures.

The team is competing in Division 1 of the Chobe Regional Football Association (CHRFA) League. 

Giving a keynote address at the handing over of the merchandise on Friday in Kachikau, Minister of Justice and MP for Chobe, Machana Shamukuni said Chobe villages were unique in that they benefited from Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) policies, which provided incentives for communities managing natural resources. 

He said Kachikau received over P2 million in dividends accrued in 2022 and 2023 from the Chobe Enclave Community Trust (CECT), and that it enabled the VDC to donate the kit to the team. 

Shamukuni said sport was a lucrative business globally as many sports stars, including footballers from humble backgrounds made a living from sport. 

He said discipline and dedication were a prerequisite for every athlete, and encouraged Vultures players to uphold good ethics and morals at all times.

The minister said sport development was key and that government had allocated a huge budget to the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture to unearth talent and invest in sport development. 

He also noted that government had constructed stadiums across the country, including the ongoing Kasane sport facility, adding that another stadium was in the pipeline for Kazungula, which would be built by Botswana Football Association supported by FIFA.

He applauded the VDC for the donation saying it would motivate the team to perform better. 

The club chairperson, Omogolo Kanowa said the Vultures were conceived in 1999 and officially registered in 2008, adding that they were based in Kasane although they were a Kachikau team.

He noted that they played with one kit for many years as they had limited resources and no sponsors for transport when playing away games.

He said with Kachikau VDC support, the club aimed to achieve good results compared to past seasons. He noted that they were currently in position 10 out of 14 teams in their division.

“We have big dreams to see our team become the pride of Chobe just like we saw Sankoyo Football Club promote their village,” he said.  For his part, Kachikau VDC chairperson, Mpho Mika said many small football clubs were operated from officials funds, which affected performance. 

He said Chobe had talented athletes and that some played  professional football in the premier league. 

He said in addition to the donation, they would fence the Vultures ground, build an office and toilets at the club grounds in Kachikau so that the team could relocate to their village.

He said the plan was that when the new season launched in October all Kachikau team home games would be played in the village. ENDS