17 Mar 2025

Molepolole Stadium on Saturday turned into an anchor of all roads across Molepolole and her outskirts as athletics fanatics turned up to witness the launch of Matlhagolatsela athletics competition for Kweneng region.

After years of silence and inactivity at schools’ grounds, due to Covid-19, the then Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (currently the Ministry of Sports), Matlhagolatsela Athletics Competition was introduced in 2024 to keep the ball rolling on talents that have been suppressed by inactivity of school sport.

Though all secondary schools in the region were invited to be part of the competition only five schools managed to release their athletes. Molepolole schools athletics convener Mokenti Letsoma said the competition served as a foundation for selecting Team Kweneng that will compete in the nationals where Team Botswana will be selected to vie in Region 5 Athletics Competitions to be held in Namibia.

He said kick-starting sports at schools was the right thing to groom talents at tender age hence, advised out of school children, to partake in the competitions which are open to all under 20s. Matlhagolatsela comprised activities such as long and short distance races, relays and field events.

Kweneng District Council Chairperson Ofentse Rankhibidu also Hatsalatladi/ Mogonono councilor said parents should embrace the benefit of supporting their kids interested in athletics. He said the new government mandate focused on taking sports to another level.

He said he was warm hearted by the fact that the policy of decentralisation would help to give councils more say on taking decisions hence an upper hand in influencing the future of sports.

Councils, stated Mr Rankhibidu, had a direct touch with communities unlike the central government, which takes lengthy bureaucracy to address matters, therefore, councils deserving to be engaged in addressing issues within society with urgency.

He pleaded with companies that won government tenders to give back to the community within the tender area. Mr Rankhibidu said businesspeople could contribute by buying sporting clothes for athletes.

“Sometimes a child can be demoralized or under-perform because of putting on a wrong attire in the field compared to his or her competitors,” he said.

Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Sports Development Officer in Kweneng Tshepo Iketleng said the objective of Matlhagola Tsela Athletics Competition was to get the kids back to the field.

“From here we will organise a similar competition. We want to get the sports back on track to preserve and utilise talents, hence creating hope and jobs for children post school. We have a problem of non-communicable diseases, peer pressure and we are currently dealing with the problem of GBV and drug abuse. With no school sports, children find pleasure in social ills like substance abuse, bullying and indiscipline. Engaging in sports they get to know themselves and shape their future better. Even to us parents this is going to relieve our spirit because you know your daughter or son has gone sporting to avoid lawlessness,” stated Mr Iketleng.

He applauded volunteers, teachers, officials and parents for making the event a success. ENDS