Behind successful Botswana Games is a woman
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday November 17, 2017 16:43
Her appointment as a patron did not come as a surprise as she has been involved in sport since the early 1970s, starting off as a netball player.
When she moved to Gaborone Senior Secondary School (GSS) in 1978, there was a natural expectation that she would continue with netball, but she did not.
Rather, she decided to play softball and by the time she was in Form Two she was already in the school’s senior team and in 1980 she was co-opted into the national team.
“At the time, we were playing in the Zone VI championships. I was involved in softball for many years. At the University of Botswana I started developing interest in squash and I combined the two.
After completing my university studies I dropped out of the national team due to work engagements,” she said.
Kgatlwane said she was amongst the first women to play squash and she made it into the national team. She then stopped playing squash due to an injury, which she picked up while playing softball.
Kgatlwane landed in golf by ‘luck’ when she was working in Uganda in 1999.
Her lowest handicap was seven after starting at 24 instead of the usual 36 for women. She proceeded to play for the national team.
“I then left to do administration and ended up becoming the Botswana Ladies Golf Union president, which was amazing. It was during the transition period of golf among women. By then, the sport was seen as belonging to foreigners. Work commitments stood in my way and I decided to quit and focus on one thing, which was my job,” she said.
Kgatlwane was not involved in the 2015 Botswana Games, but was part of the 2014 Africa Youth Games. “The magnitude of the games are different. The 2017 Botswana Games are bigger (than 2015) because they are meant to identify talent more especially that AUSC Region V Games will be hosted here next year,” Kgatlwane said.
She said the Botswana Games present an opportunity for young people to participate at national level and they are open to all young people under 18 years, including out-of-school youths. Kgatlwane said it is not about the number of people, but growing sport.
She said sport affords people the opportunity to put the country on the world map.
“There are (some sporting) codes which enjoy more money. As a patron, I hope that as more codes grow, this country would see where the money should be spent, in comparison to others. We have to support codes that benefit this country. Re a itse gore madi ga a spendiwe go tshwana,” she said.
Kgatlwane said they want to make the games exciting, to improve on previous editions, in a bid to attract the attention of Batswana.
“Maybe we did not know much about the games because they were in Francistown. But I would not say that. We are going to work hard to make noise around the upcoming games. By the time we go to the games, Batswana would know the officials who are going to be involved,” she said.
Kgatlwane said coming from the corporate world, they are always willing to assist but the challenge is when there is an economic downturn. She said her committee has approached various potential sponsors and they are hopeful they would come on board. Kgatlwane said there is always concentration but companies are few. She said that puts a lot of pressure on the same organisations all the time. When asked how it felt to be appointed the patron she said: “I was confused and happy. I was like maybe it was a trap. I was not expecting it and nobody had pre-warned me.
If I fail, I would be embarrassing myself as Tiny and my family and the women in this country because I am the first woman to be given this opportunity.
I was extremely honoured because it means participating in sport all these years has not gone unnoticed,” she said.
At least 3,000 athletes are expected to compete in the games that would be held at the National Stadium, UB Stadium, UB courts, Lekidi, BNYC grounds, Notwane tennis and netball courts and National Diamond, which take place from December 9 to 16, 2017.
The full LOC:
Bobby Gaseitsiwe (chairperson), Steady Basupang (head of protocol and ceremonies), Kabelo Mmono (head of finance), Steve Botlhasitse (head of accreditation and data heads of technical), Dr George Mokone (head of medical), Ketlwaelo Rahube and Tapiwa Masunga (heads of technical), Gaba Gaetsewe (head of HR and volunteer services), Elsie Kenosi (head of logistics), Modiri Ontitile (head of marketing and communications), Kearabetswe Galebotse (head of security, facilities and environment),
Mission Mereyotlhe (head of games secretariat) and Boitumelo Moagi (games manager).