Bring It Promotions spokesperson and coach, Bonita Wise, told MmegiSport this week before leaving Gaborone that their company specialises in foreign tours for volleyball. “The BIP specialises in international volleyball tours and events as well as professional career development. In 2018, the BIP contacted the BVF about Howard University taking a foreign trip to Africa. It was the first time a Division One volleyball programme took a foreign trip to Africa. Mostly we travelled to Europe, Asia, and South America. Once we got in touch with the BVF and realised that it was possible, we decided to take a trip to Botswana to play friendly matches and run school clinics here,” she said.
Wise said the idea was not only to come on a trip and learn about Botswana but to help grow the game and assist Botswana in becoming a competitive force. She said the BVF and the BIP are now 'good friends’ and are still trying to grow volleyball, adding that Howard University was in the country for the second time. “Howard University is prestigious and it is part of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). So that makes this trip much more important and special. We arrived in Gaborone on May 17, from here, we are leaving on Tuesday (May 21) for Khama Rhino Sanctuary and proceeding to the Chobe area, where we will conduct more school clinics. Our trip ends in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe,” Wise said. Lesotho Volleyball Association (LVA) president, Hlapane Tshehlo said they were invited to take part in the Howard University tour by the BVF president, Tsoseletsi Magang, after being impressed by Lepereng Olympafrica Centre during the Zone VI Club Championships held in Maseru in December. “We are a young side with players aged between 15 to 23 years. Being part of the tour has given the players the much-needed exposure. We gave the Americans a tough battle, and I think it was one of the toughest games they have ever played. I learnt that Americans start volleyball at an early age hence the experience. We believe that with more tournaments of this nature, they will grow well in volleyball,” Tshehlo said.
