06 May 2015

Ms Johana Ramantele (53) of Gakhibane in the Kgalagadi District, is a hard worker of repute who has done a lot in the areas of education, sport, and culture, among other contributions she has made to the nation.

Beside her teaching profession, Ms Ramantele has founded a number of social and cultural groups including; Honey Polka Dance Group, Kanye Swallows Ladies Football Club and Khuto Primary School netball.

She told BOPA in an interview that hard work, perseverance, dreaming big and self-confidence are the main ingredients of success. 

She said one should bear in mind that a dream does not become a reality through magic but rather, it takes devotion, commitment and determination to realise one’s dream. 

Another crucial step in the right direction is to conquer procrastination and start implementing the dream forthwith because some postponed plans never materialize, she said. 

The hardworking lady’s early days include doing her primary education at Makaba Primary School in Kanye from 1972 to 1979, before proceeding to Seepapitso Senior Secondary School from 1980 to 1982 for a three-year Junior Certificate. 

In 1986 she enrolled for a primary teacher’s certificate at Lobatse Teachers Training College (TTC) before returning to Kanye in 1988 where she taught at Matsaakgang Primary School.

She remembers turning ordinary youngsters into celebrities and some of them include the speedy Zebras winger and utility player, Joel Mogorosi, now playing continental football in South Africa. 

She also taught the famous and one of the most celebrated kwaito stars ‘Mapetla’, as well as the multi-talented actor, comedian and pastor Joel Keitumele, well known in the performing industry by the stage name of ‘Ntsoro’. 

As a netball coach in 1988, her team got position one at zonal competitions in 1988 and thereafter proceeded to regional stages where she continued the winning streak advancing to national competitions.

Her team at Matsaakgang was crowned the 1988 Primary School national champions.

Still hungry for more exploits, Ms Ramantele went beyond her comfort zone in 1990 by starting the only community ladies football club in Kanye named Kanye Swallows Ladies Football Club. 

The team performed very well and earned itself a position in the Premier League. Kanye Swallows Ladies Football Club maintained the sterling performance until 1998 when the team collapsed due to Ms Ramantele’s transfer to Kanngwe Primary school in the Kgalagadi district.

While at Kanngwe Primary school in 1997 she continued with her netball coaching passion by obtaining position one at zonal and regional levels but dropped to position two at national level.

“When he Botswana Primary School Association (BOPSSA) was introduced in 2006 I was elected Southern region primary school netball organizer,” she said.

She added that in 2008, she was crowned Thari ya sechaba award, which is deserved by people considered to have shown an outstanding performance for the country.

She was then transferred to Khuto Primary School in 2009 where she kept on maintaining her passion for netball coaching; she also rejuvenated Kanye Swallows Ladies Football Club. 

At Khuto she maintained her norm by winning zonal and regional stages as well as emerging 2009 national champions. 

The winning streak as from 2009 continued until 2014 when she introduced a male netball team. The newly born team performed splendidly as they won zonal and regional stages but there was no competition at national level for male netball teams.

“This year I am going back to my roots to continue my netball coaching passion with the ladies team,” said the soft spoken Ramantele.

She said that her community ladies football team, Kanye Swallows is back on its feet and has climbed to the premier league where they are currently occupying position five.

2011 will be a year to remember for Kanye Swallows Ladies football team as they attained position two in the premier league, she said. 

She cited financial constraints as a stumbling block that hamper the team’s preparations which resulted in them missing matches and dropping drastically from 2012 as they attained position six and occupied the seventh position in 2013. 

“I am very impressed by my team’s performance as it has produced some marvelous players for the national Under-20 women football team including Marata Silabo, Maitshoko Ramantele and Amogelang Moahi,” said Ms Ramantele.

She said the under-20 women national soccer team has five of her players, adding that in 2011 her star continued to shine brighter as she was made the welfare manager for the Under-20 women national soccer team. 

In the same year, she became the only female award winner of the Botswana National Olympic Organizing Committee (BNOC). 

“Sport is very critical since it keeps one away from unbecoming behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse. It also refreshes the mind and increases fitness levels; hence strengthening the immune system. One can also make a living through sports,” she said.

As a professional primary school teacher, Ms Ramantele has challenged pupils to take their education very seriously as it is the one that determines their future.

She pleaded with Batswana to conserve culture for the next generation to inherit, which she describes as a critical component in nation building. 

Culture is a source of income generation; hence she founded a polka group to preserve culture, she said, adding that she manages her time well between the various activities she is responsible for.

Between 07:00 and 15:00 she deals with her profession related tasks and goes back home to do domestic chores between 15:30 and 16:30. 

Between 17:00 and 18:00 she will be at the football pitch mentoring young stars. She also revealed that if there is a polka dance rehearsal they start around 19:00.

“As an Under-20 welfare manager I am looking forward to scooping more medals with the team and performing marvelously in international games. I am also aiming to see more of my players being upgraded to the national teams,” she said.  ENDS