07 May 2024

Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has sponsored Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) with P250 000 towards preparations for the Africa Youth Table Tennis Championships 2024. 

Unveiling the sponsorship in Gaborone on Monday, ODC Managing Director Mmetla Masire said he was happy that BTTA had taken a move to host the youth championships and was confident that the selected players would make the country proud. 

He said the partnership was dedicated towards facilitating the event scheduled for July 15-21, adding that it cemented their goal to empower table tennis players. 

Masire  said ODC was proud to be facilitating the advancement of Botswana as a centre for showcasing talent and culture and fostering growth in the community through sport. 

“We are excited to invest towards Botswana’s potential to become a prominent hub for international table tennis. The sponsorship aims not only at providing exposure to our grassroots efforts but also to empower officials to meet international hosting standards,” he said. 

He said through partnerships such as the one with BTTA, ODC was aspiring to nurture athletes and offer them an opportunity to reach the global stage. Masire added that their dedication goes beyond merely sponsoring the event as it also reflects their ethos of empowering individuals to pursue their dreams. 

Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) acting president, Tshepo Sitale said it was time for the country to take advantage of its location and host more regional sporting competitions. 

Sitale encouraged other codes to emulate BTTA, and bid to host regional and international sports competitions. 

Even though financially constrained, Sitale said based on how BTTA had been performing, it was bound to get the necessary support. 

He said BTTA was one of the codes that were doing well in terms of grassroots development and urged them to focus on developing a team for the 2028 Olympics and by so doing increasing participation in major and international events. 

BTTA president Kudzanani Motswagole said the sponsorship marked a significant milestone in elevating table tennis in the country to greater heights. 

“With the sponsorship, we are confident that we can transform Botswana into a hosting hub for international table tennis events and provide exposure to our grassroots development ,” he said. ENDS