PresidentialGen Z takes ovationover Botswana Sport
President Mokgweetsi Masisi showered sports personalities and teams with accolades for raising the nation’s flag high in international events
WThe team, which has an average age of 16, comprises of 15 year old Woman Fide Master Naledi Marape, 15 year old Woman Candidate Master Natalie Banda, 15 year old hen delivering his Woman State of Candidate Master Arona Moshoboro, 18 year old Nation Address ( SONA), Ruth Otisitswe and 20 year old Woman Fide Master Besa earlier this week, His Excellency Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi has Masaiti. The players earned themselves slots into the senior
commended the efforts of local sport
national team after different stages of qualifiers. At the 2022
ing fraternity, following impressive performances by some athletes and
World Athletics Championships which were held in Oregon,
teams in recent continental and global competitions.
United States, from 15- 24 July 2022, the gifted 19 year old
Athletics was named the best per
Letsile Tebogo also recorded historic moments for the coun
forming sport code in last year’s Botswana National Sports Commission
try, not only by breaking records, but also by becoming the
awards, while Jwaneng Galaxy was named the best team as local sport
youngest athlete to represent the country at the senior level of
continued to leave a mark in continen
the athletics championship. Letsile and Collen Kebinatshipi
tal and international space.
Although the president did not
( 18), were also the youngest athletes from Botswana at the
delve much into government’s intenstomach virus. his supporting corner as he defends his tions for sport development, he ac“Isaac Makwala, you have on many title in December of this year,” the presi
22nd African Athletics Championships, which were held in
knowledged the contributions of the occasions represented Botswana with dent expressed his appreciation of local sector to the local economy. dedication and pride. You are a patriot athletes. Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang led
Saint Pierre, Mauritius from 8 - 12 June 2022. These history
“I take this opportunity to recognize and a source of inspiration to many. the Mares to their maiden appearance
makers fall within Generation Z, which is also called Gen
the remarkable exploits and achieveOur rising star, Letsile Tebogo, you where the team made it to the quarter ments of our men and women who have captivated Batswana and the world final stage and only missed out on
Z, described as the generational cohort following millen
continue to raise the Botswana Flag by becoming a new World Under 20 qualifying for the World Cup, following high in various disciplines, especially hundred metres record holder, with a a defeat to host Morocco.
nials, born between 10 the late 1990s at and early 2010s. Gen Z
in the international sporting world,” time of 9.91 seconds. A bright future “I express my profound appreciation
will have enormous impact on the future of sport. Different
he said. lies ahead of you; and I encourage you and delight to ‘ The Mares,’ our Senior
Dr Masisi mentioned amongst othto nurture your talents to the best of Women National Football Team. They
organizations have put in place strategies like the Botswana
ers, Isaac Makwala who famously had your ability, with character. I recognize competed for the first time at the 2022
INSPIRATIONAL... Former you 800m Steven Bagwasi, runner for Glody making us Dube Women has Africa inspired Cup of Nations a an entire track to himself as a solo ( generation WAF
Gender and Sport Strategy, the Botswana National Olympic
runner, at the London 2017 IAAF proud by winning the World Boxing CON) and reached the quarter finals of
Committee Strategy, the Botswana National Sport Commis
Athletics Championships following Federation Super Featherweight Chamthe tournament. This is no small feat in
Africa Games.
fears that he could have contacted pionship. We shall all stand proudly in African football,” he said.
sion vision 2028 and association level strategies in terms of long- term athlete development, which have embedded Gen Z. The most important and the biggest task is to ensure sustainable and continuous investment in this cohort and the cohorts to come. Email: