04 May 2022

Botswana Wrestling Federation (BWF), in partnership with Wrestling Entertainment Botswana, is planning to host its first show in Gaborone next month.

The first show follows professional auditions that the federation staged at Kagisong Centre in Mogoditshane on Saturday to identify potential wrestlers who would take part in the scheduled entertainment wrestling events countrywide.

The Saturday auditions saw 26 wrestlers, five of which were women, selected for try-outs and examined to check their fitness levels and mental strength.

In an interview after the auditions, the federation president, Moagi Sharp said they would, in preparation for the first showpiece, hold press conferences, embark on rigorous marketing and advertising and also host a workshop for sport writers to capacitate them on coverage of the sport.

Sharp indicated that the federation would also host another show in Lobatse in July, saying “our dream is to sharpen our wrestlers so that they are able to compete in the African championships and in other international competitions.”

He added that the federation had been, for the past 10 years, engaged in Olympic wrestling grassroots development and only agreed at their annual general meeting held in Mahalapye last year to introduce professional or entertainment wrestling.

“Professional or entertainment wrestling style is the one that is usually watched on television. As a result, we have registered pro wrestling shows or teams including power rumble, claw hammer and Next Wrestling Entertainment (NWE) which is for female pro wrestlers only,” he explained.

However, he regretted that they only managed to register a few number of women wrestlers and thus encouraged more to come on board so as to have many of them participate in the new sport.

He also explained that the idea to start entertainment wrestling was born from a lot of interest from Batswana following their first advertisement on Facebook for people to register after which about 350 all over the country instantly showed interest.

Meanwhile, one of the auditions participants, 36-year-old Botlhofo Motshegwa of Machaneng said he registered because he loved wrestling.

“I grew up watching the sport on television and when I heard about the introduction of the sport I jumped to the opportunity and registered to participate. I love wrestling so much that I would like to one day represent the country internationally,” Motshegwa said.

Another participant, 38-year-old Vinoliah Matubako of Maboane village narrated how she also grew up watching wrestling and fell in love with the sport.

“Growing up I vowed that I will be the first woman to join the sport if by any chance it got introduced in Botswana so here I am,” said Matubako who is currently the women’s team general manager.

She opined that wrestling instilled discipline and kept one healthy. She thus urged more women and youth to participate in the sport because it had the potential to create career paths for some, particularly that a lot of youth were unemployed.

On the other hand, a mother, Ndulamo Moabi said she attended the auditions to support her 21-year-old son, Maxwell.

“At first I was reluctant about him joining the sport fearing that he will get injured since wrestling is a contact sport. But I now realise that he needs all the support he can get in order for him to succeed in the sport,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sharp explained that professional wrestling is an entertainment sport wrestlers perform scripted matches presented as authentic combat sport. Matches are said to be based on classical and ‘catch’ wrestling, with modern additions of striking attacks, acrobatics, feats of strength, fast-moving athleticism and occasionally, improvised weaponry.

However, he said professional wrestling should not be confused with the contact sport of amateur wrestling and anyone from 18 to 50 years can join it. BOPA