Recreational life in early Gaborone (2)
Sandy Grant | Wednesday July 27, 2016 14:03
The new club was officially opened by Seretse Khama in 1967. It’s first President was the Director of Agriculture, Gordon Hampson and one of its first captains of the club was Fr. Leonard Devitt of St. Joseph’s College, Kgale.
Another sporting initiative that had its origins in Mafikeng was the Notwane Club which was established there in 1964 in preparation for the move to Gaborone, it being felt that it was better to leave the old Gaborone Club to its own devices and to create an entirely new kind of club which would be free from racial issues.
Within a short time, the Notwane Club was making its mark with its own tennis courts, courtesy of BENSAF, and a squash court and with its lively Saturday evening dances was attracting the new town’s young. Probably as a deliberate decision it never sought to compete with the Gaborone Club by making its own swimming pool probably because it was obvious that few local people had ever been in a swimming pool or could swim. Very much to the fore in the new club team and in the early national championships were Quill Hermans, Lawrence Lekalake, Poppy Nteta, and within a short time, the formidable, Ray Weedon who, by report, had played at Wimbledon, with Euphemia Tlhopane increasingly taking on the role of coach to the young. Was it not a happy reflection of the country’s new dawn that the 1967 national championship should have been won by one of the first of the US Peace Corps volunteers, Sam Caldwell? If the development of golf and tennis were the particular concerns of the white residents of the new town, it was inevitable that the greater appeal of football for the majority of the population would eclipse both.
It is a pity that no one has yet attempted to write a history of sport in this country but when they do so, it will inevitably be football which will prove to have the longest antecedents and be the most socially interesting. Of particular interest for any Gaborone historian is Township Rollers which was formed by Public Works Department employees in 1961.
They called their first club side, Makepe FC but changed the name in 1965 to Township Rollers. The Notwane Club initiated in 1965 but was established in 1965 by Archie Mogwe in Mafikeng and Gaborone United in 1967. The club was established at a meeting which was attended by Osbert Kgabosetso Sedirwa (Chair), Robert Moirwagale, David Mophuting, Eunice T.S Radebe (Recording), Necta Senwelo, Boyce Mothobi, David Molefi, Maitshwarelo Dabutha, Julius Mathangwane, Toro Lenamile, Bankane Mokgware, Peter Jane, Ethna Keabetswe Dabutha, Gagonakago Mojalemotho, Sandy Raditladi, Jonathan Molapo, and Aaron Gare. In December 1967 Wellie Seboni returned to Gaborone from Zambia and he and Oarabile Kalaben were given executive positions.