Jwaneng engage soccer in HIV fight

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday March 19, 2010 00:00

Concerned by the youth's reluctance to test for HIV, the Jwaneng branch of the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) has decided to form 15 football clubs, mostly consisting of unemployed youth to compete in a tournament that has been running every weekend since March 6. The winner of the final of the 15-team tournament to be played at Jwaneng's Galaxy Stadium will not just be decided on victories on the pitch.  The eventual finalists must excel in having their supporters test for HIV/AIDS in large numbers over the last three weeks. The challenge for the 15 clubs in between the breaks is to recruit more supporters and convince them to go for HIV counselling and testing. Acting regional coordinator at BNYC, Thekiso Motshegwa said the first weekend, on March 6, saw 69 youth going for HIV counselling and testing. The idea is to involve all the Jwaneng youth.

Motshegwa said they are happy that they managed to increase the number of  participating teams drastically from last year. 'The most encouraging thing is that all the games have been well attended during the first two weekends; Tebelopele Counselling and Testing Centre has pitched a tent here as our partner during this Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) commemorations,' he said.

Motshegwa added that the 15 teams taking part were initially formed to compete in  the controversial constituency league. 'We helped form the teams to compete in constituency leagues. We formed a big pool of clubs which would then compete against one another before the winner takes on other winners in the constituency.  But  for the  purpose of MYAA commemorations,  the 15 clubs are only competing among themselves in Jwaneng this time; the idea is to keep them away from social ills  like alcohol abuse,  crime,  unplanned sex, and so forth', the  BNYC official explained.

Mining towns have been identified in the national AIDS strategy as high risk areas in the spread of HIV/AIDS as workers with disposable incomes  easily engage in sex and heavy drinking.

For Motshegwa, however,  the  joy will come  when  the Tebelopele Counselling and Testing Centre informs them that  an impressive number of youth in Jwaneng heed the call to  test for  HIV/AIDS.

But one thing is clear. When the town mayor,  District Commissioner and headman  start to shake hands to congratulate the captain of the winning  team on March 28, it  will not just be another victory by a football club. The captain will be saluted for his humongous efforts in mobilising his club's supporters and fellow team-mates to  test for HIV in large numbers without any fear of stigmatisation.