Hosts Lobatse dominate LAHISA games

Tumelo Mouwane | Wednesday April 8, 2015 09:39

Teams Lobatse, Kanye, Ramotswa, Tlokweng, Mogoditshane, Palapye, Serowe, Bobonong, Gaborone, Chobe, Jwaneng, Mochudi, Ghanzi, Francistown, Selebi-Phikwe, Sowa, Tutume, Tsabong, Mabutsane, Ngwaketsi Land Board and Tonota attended the games. The games were held from March 27-April 2 under the theme: “Enhancing Productivity and Unity at Work through Sports”.

Athletes from the local authorities participated in a number of sporting disciplines like football, netball, volleyball, pool, table tennis, chess, darts and a 10 km  fun run.

Lobatse won gold medal in volleyball followed by Francistown and Gaborone respectively. Marulaganyi Maome emerged the best volleyball player.

Lobatse continued with consistent performance by winning gold medal in netball followed by Serowe with silver, while Palapye walked away with bronze medal.

Masukusuku Tlhomamo won the overall netball player award. Gaborone claimed victory by winning gold medal in men’s football followed by Francistown and Palapye. Raymond Moatlhodi of Gaborone team emerged the best soccer player of the tournament.

LAHISA communications manager, Junity Sechele said Team Lobatse had the upper hand in the competition because they were well prepared for the games.

“They won the overall trophy because they managed to send participants to all sporting codes that took place. Their leadership was also fully behind them,” Sechele explained.

He further added that some of the challenges they face, as a growing organisation, is lack of sponsorship.

“We only depend on government for funds to facilitate the games.  Hospitals also help by sending emergency vehicles and medical assistance. The other challenge we experienced (during the LAHISA games) was that most teams did not send participants for sport codes like chess and pool,” Sechele said.

Project Coordinator, Lesiemang Lesiemang concurred that Team Lobatse used home ground advantage as they managed to send as many athletes  as possible to the competition.

“Team Lobatse had enough training prior to the games and they were not much constrained by physical fitness challenges posed by travelling,” added Lesiemang in an interview at the games, which managed to attract over 2,000 athletes.

LAHISA  officials said they are preparing a team that will represent Botswana at the 2015 Southern Africa Inter- Municipalities Sports Association (SAIMSA) games, which will be held at Lesotho in September. Each team that participated in LAHISA games will take part in SAIMSA games that will be held from  September  21-27 this year.

Countries that will be represented at the SAIMSA games are South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and the hosts, Lesotho.