Banmoon U-20 event fills youth football void
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday August 2, 2025 06:00
The Banmoon Under-20 tournament is emerging as a crucial platform for unearthing and polishing raw talent in a system where young players often fall through the cracks. Now in its fourth edition, the tournament has grown in both scale and reputation.
What started as a modest four-team affair has now expanded to 16 teams, and for the first time, it includes clubs from across all five regions of the southern block.
Teams from Gaborone, Lobatse, Moshupa, Thamaga and Oodi are battling it out in this year's edition.
Speaking to MmegiSport this week, the tournament founder Ofentse Dikwii, shared the inspiration behind Banmoon Under-20 is to ensure budding talents in to the elite league.
“We wanted to create a space where players aged 17 to 19 could showcase their talent.
“The ultimate dream is to see them playing regularly in the Premier League, the National First Division, or even abroad,' said Dikwii.
With no official junior leagues running under the Botswana Football League (BFL) umbrella, Banmoon Under-20 is filling a glaring void.
Open to any team willing to register, the tournament follows a knockout format due to financial constraints, although organisers initially hoped for a group-stage structure.
The integrity of the competition is upheld through strict age verification, using both FIFA player IDs and national IDs (Omang) before every game, a level of diligence rare in local grassroots football.
From last year’s edition alone, three players were snapped up by local clubs. Phemo Gaborone joined Santos and Frank Seleke signed with Gaborone United, while Thomamo Kayab moved to Notwane FC.
“We do not have partnerships yet with top-tier clubs but we are creating the platform, and we’ve invited top coaches to attend,' said Dikwii.
“We are still awaiting confirmation from national team coach, Morena Ramorebodi, but Kabelo Sechotlo, assistant coach for the Under-20 national team, will be in attendance.'
Limited funding restricts the number of teams that can be accommodated and caps the scale of prizes.
The 2025 edition offers gold medals, warm-up vests, and a trophy to the winners; silver medals and bibs for the runners-up; and cones with bronze medals for third place.
“Our biggest expenses are referees and prizes. We have written proposals to potential sponsors, and we are appealing to both corporates and government to come on board.
“With proper backing, we can take this to the national level and give Botswana’s youth the footballing future they deserve,' Dikwii added.
The opening rounds of the tournament will be played this weekend at Lesirane Grounds in Mogoditshane. The final rounds will be played a week later from August 9 to 10 in the same field.