Concerned by the youth's reluctance to test for HIV, the Jwaneng branch of the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) has decided to form 15 football clubs, mostly consisting of unemployed youth to compete in a tournament that has been running every weekend since March 6. The winner of the final of the 15-team tournament to be played at Jwaneng's Galaxy Stadium will not just be decided on victories on the pitch. The eventual finalists must excel in having their supporters test for HIV/AIDS in large numbers over the last three weeks.
The challenge for the 15 clubs in between the breaks is to recruit more supporters and convince them to go for HIV counselling and testing. Acting regional coordinator at BNYC, Thekiso Motshegwa said the first weekend, on March 6, saw 69 youth going for HIV counselling and testing. The idea is to involve all the Jwaneng youth.
Motshegwa said they are happy that they managed to increase the number of participating teams drastically from last year. "The most encouraging thing is that all the games have been well attended during the first two weekends; Tebelopele Counselling and Testing Centre has pitched a tent here as our partner during this Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) commemorations," he said.
