The competition is scheduled for November 11 to14 in Gaborone and is expected to attract participants from around 40 countries. As things stand, the BTTA is about P2 million short of the estimated P4 million budget for the WTT Youth Contender Gaborone 2026. Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairperson, Dhana Ramasamy, said the organisers have secured almost half of the resources required but still needed significant support from the corporate sector, small and medium enterprises, individuals and volunteers. “It is an international event. You are looking at plus or minus 40 countries participating and a budget in the tune of plus or minus P4 million,” she said when speaking to SportMonitor on the sidelines of the BTTA National Super League launch on Saturday. “That is what the comfortable budget is at the moment. We are almost halfway securing various resources and various needs for the event.” Ramasamy added the association was grateful for the support it had received from government, particularly the Ministry of Sports and Arts and the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC).
She said the government’s support started during the bidding process for the hosting rights, with the Ministry and BNSC continuing to assist with resources and allocations within their capacity. “We are extremely grateful for the support we have got directly from the government. Number one, allowing us and granting us to explore this opportunity. “When we were bidding for this opportunity for us to host this event, they were rallying behind us,” she added. Meanwhile, the LOC has secured a partnership involving a subsidised venue and accommodation arrangements for players and other stakeholders travelling to Botswana. According to Ramasamy, the technical side of preparations is also in place, describing the organising team's capacity as sufficient for an event of the tournament's magnitude. “Our biggest support that we have here within our internal team is the technical support. For us to qualify to conduct such a game, it means technically our team has to be top notch,” she said. She added that the LOC was still looking for partners in areas including logistics and beverages, with discussions with some potential partners yet to be finalised. Despite the funding requirements, spectators will not be charged to attend the tournament.
