On Friday, the acting Minister of Sport and Arts (MOSA) Lawerence Ookeditse bid farewell to a team he dubbed ‘the country’s crown jewels’ as it prepared to jet off to Angola to compete at the 4th African Youth Games (AYG).
The team, made of athletes between the ages of 14 and 17 years, will test its development against agemates from 53 other African countries in a competition running from the 10th to the 20th of December 2025.
Addressing the athletes, Ookeditse said there is no pressure on them. He encouraged them to go out, have fun and make friends. Whilst doing that, they also had to give all their best, understanding the games mark the start of their sporting careers.
“Your participation in these games is not an end in itself, but it is a powerful beginning as we are building athletes, who will soon be ready for the youth Olympic Games and ultimately the Olympic Games, with Los Angeles 2028 fast approaching. And you, as youngsters, are not merely representing us today, you are shaping the future for all of us.”
The acting minister said over the years, Botswana had established herself as a formidable sporting nation. He pointed that the country has had generations of extraordinary performers, in the likes of Amantle Montsho, Isaac Makwala, Nijel Amos and lately Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi and many others, who he compelled them to look up to for inspiration.
“All of these people were you at some point. They are not coming from somewhere different. They are superstars, let us appreciate that. But in terms of where they come from, they are nothing special. They are like you and I. We are the same, and that says to you that you could do better than what those superstars have done.”
“We are not going to put you under pressure. You are going to enjoy yourselves, but at the back of your minds know that you could be the next big thing. That you are already here says you are among the top 2 percent of the athletes in your age category in our country. So, it says to you that your future is bright in this regard,” Ookeditse said.
While encouraging to put effort in sport, he cautioned them to not forsake their education. He advised them to balance between school and sport, and equally put effort on both.
“You can excel in sport, and still do very well in whatever you pursue in your academic life. So, it should not be that to be a good athlete replaces your being good with your books.”
While there will be ‘no pressure or medal expectations’ placed on them, the games will however be of crucial importance for the athletes and the country. The games will serve as qualifiers for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Botswana’s AYG team heading to Angola is composed of athletes from fourteen (14) sporting codes, being athletics, badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, fencing, horse (equestrian), judo, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and weightlifting.
