22 May 2022

For a long time, basketball did not feature in the list of sporting activities offered in schools.

Speaking at the commencement of Big Chems Annual 3X3 Basketball Tournament in Francistown on Saturday, Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi, said the sport had enriched people in countries where it was played professionally.

“It is unfortunate that basketball is not an established sport in Botswana,” Mmolotsi stated, adding that basketball clubs were few in the country and so were private institutions that offered the sport.

He encouraged players to promote the sport and take it seriously so that youngsters could develop interest.

Mmolotsi said it would also help if every sport field constructed in the country included a basketball pitch.

“I am here to encourage you, I want that in the foreseeable future. We have groomed good basketball players in the country and in the region,” he said.

He said people had been made to believe that one must be tall and stout to be a good basketball player, but body size did not matter.

Mmolotsi encouraged players not to be discouraged when they lose but rather look forward to the next game.

Tournament organiser, Tiro Serumola, said the tournament was in honour of Chenemani Nkobodo who passed away last year.

He said Nkobodo helped schools such as  Mater Spei and Francistown Flames Basketball Club develop the sport.

Serumola said the tournament was attended by clubs from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Gaborone, Selebi Phikwe, Palapye and Francistown.

Family representative, Chiyapo Nkobodo said all should raise basketball to greater heights.

In the under 18 girls final, Future 5ers of Gaborone won 12-7 againt Squard from Francistown and the same category for boys, Young Blood from Zimbabwe won 19-8 against AND1 from Francistown.

In the senior men final, In the Streets won 10-9 against Bap Ballers, both teams are from Zimbabwe. The same category for women, In the Streets won 8-7 against Netty Shots from Botswana. ENDS