Hobby launches Nogampe into judo stardom
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday March 9, 2026 09:14
She is now rated as one of the best judokas in the country, and her hard work has booked her a ticket to Australia as a recipient of the Botswana National Sport Commission's Elite Scholarship. Speaking to MmegiSport from Australia, Nogampe said she joined judo through her brother at Lesedi Primary School in Gaborone.
“I was doing it for fun at first, but eventually dwelt in it and even became the best at it. I started doing judo in 2016 under the guidance of Sensei William Matike, who is still my coach,” she said.
Born 21 years ago in Francistown, Nogampe explained that her experience in judo has been great because she has had opportunities to compete at an international level, met experienced athletes and learnt from them.
Reacting to the myth that judo is a dangerous sport, Nogampe dismissed the notion and said the sport has fewer injuries compared to other physical sports.
“We have been served a lie that women cannot be the best out of sport, we can and we will, even if it is not about judo. Do what you love despite any challenges, persecution and obstacles; it works out,” she said.
Nogampe made her national team debut in 2021 at the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games in Maseru, Lesotho, winning a silver medal. She then won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the South Africa National Championship.
She returned with a bronze medal from the Zambia Air Forces Commanders Tournament and a silver medal during the African Open in Angola. “The major tournaments that I competed in were the Commonwealth Judo Championships, where I was the first woman judoka to win a gold medal in 2023. I also won a silver at the African Open in Luanda,” Nogampe said. The judoka believes in being mentally prepared; she tells herself before stepping into the tatami that 'if the other girl' can do it, she can also do it.
Nogampe said her family and friends have always been supportive. She explained that there are many challenges that she goes through, but the support makes it better.
The Elite Scholarship has given her an opportunity to pursue both her judo career and academics.
“I am an Elite Scholarship recipient, and I am currently in Australia pursuing my studies and my judo career at the same time. I will be here for four years. I am here because of hard work and the results I have made back at home. I will forever be grateful and proud of myself,” she said.
Nogampe said they have a slogan at the training centre, which says ‘Botswana Judo to the World', an indication that the sport is slowly getting there with the talent that Botswana has.
“My dream is to go big and represent my country in international competitions such as the Olympics. With the right environment, right directions, I will get there. I do not have a specific role model; anyone who is excelling and not giving up in their dreams pushes me through and motivates me,” Nogampe said. Her coach, Sensei William Rene Ndoumbe, said he met Nogampe when she was still at Lesedi Primary School. “She was involved in the Botswana Judo Federation (BJF) programme, 'Judo to Schools.' What I saw in Neo was her determination to also practice judo because her brother was doing judo, too. So, she came with many girls from her class,” he said.
Ndoumbe says Nogampe is calm, quiet and a hard worker. He said the judoka has never stopped training since then. He explained that the athlete crossed all stages of development: cadet, juniors and seniors. He said Nogampe has won many national and Re Ba Bona Ha tournaments.
“Nogampe’s scholarship comes from all her results from school and sports. It is not a secret, we all know that the Ministry of Sport and Arts (MoSA), through Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), allocates scholarships to elite athletes who succeed both academically and in sport to travel abroad to study while they practice sport,” he said.
Ndoumbe said his advice as a coach and as a parent is that Nogampe has to keep working hard in school and sport. “It is clear that she will be in a new environment, but she does not have to be scared,” Ndoumbe added.
FACT FILE:
Full names: Neo Nogampe Date of birth: September 21, 2005 Place of birth: Francistown Profession: Judoka and student Club: Curtin Elite Judo Club (Australia) Hobbies: Jamming to music, running marathons, and cooking Role model: None at the moment, but anyone who is excelling and not giving up on their dreams