Tertiary students invade SA for regional games

The Association is confident in the abilities of its student athletes, selected from a range of sporting codes, who are eager to represent Botswana at the international event. With their sights set on sporting excellence, BOTESSA is hopeful that its team will make a strong showing at the CUCSA games and return home with pride.

Botswana has a history of performing well in the CUCSA games and sending athletes to the FISU games. This year, the Botswana team consists of male and female athletes in the sports of netball, table tennis, soccer, volleyball, and basketball. The team is set to depart on the 5th of July. This week, the selected athletes have been meeting for final preparations and getting ready for competition.

The Botswana team will be officially presented to the public at a send- off ceremony on the 5th of July. BOTESSA emphasized the importance of sending students to the CUCSA games, explaining that it allows athletes to compete against others and prepares them for the national team. The CUCSA games are renowned for giving exposure to athletes through higher levels of competition, creating a supply of talent for the future.

To ensure that the best athletes are selected to represent Botswana at the CUCSA games, BOTESSA organized championship events prior to the selection process. These championships enabled the organization to identify and select individual students who demonstrated exceptional skills and potential to compete at an international level. The selection criteria were based on the outstanding performances of each student athlete during the championship events, with those who excelled chosen to join the Botswana team.

In an interview with BG Sport, Kealeboga Mmekwane, the Head Coach of the Botswana men’s volleyball team said that the team had already begun preparations for the CUCSA games, despite the challenge of students’ exam schedules. According to Mmekwane, the team will only have a few days of dedicated preparation time. However, he noted that most team members are active players in their respective clubs, which keeps them in shape and ready for competition.

“Our volleyball teams are made up of some of the best players in the country. Some are even part of the national team, and they’re always active in their clubs. We’ve been consistent podium finishers in volleyball at the CUCSA games, usually winning gold or getting a medal. Our kids are capable of competing on an international level, so we’re confident that this time, with both our men’s and women’s teams, we’ll be bringing home medals,” he said.