Courtside Botswana

Dear Diary…

World Cup, 2026.

Warsaw, Poland.

Over and out…

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BUSINESS OF SPORTS SUMMIT SET TO DRIVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE FURURE OF SPORT IN BOTSWANA

The Business of Sports Summit hosted a media briefing this morning ahead of its upcoming event scheduled for 25–26 June 2026 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre.

Held under the theme “Connect. Inspire. Transform.”, the summit aims to bring together stakeholders from sport, business, media, tourism, and policy to discuss the future of Botswana’s sports industry and its economic potential.

Founder Bonnie Dintwa emphasised the importance of creating structures and policies that allow sport to grow beyond recreation and into a sustainable industry capable of generating opportunities and return on investment.

Speaking during the briefing, Mothusi Phokoje also stressed the importance of policy in sport development, stating that “nothing positive can happen if there are no policies in place.”

Key topics to be discussed at the summit will include economic transformation through sport, sports tourism, sports investment, intellectual property, broadcasting, marketing, responsible gambling in sport, and why businesses should invest in sports.

The summit arrives at a time where conversations around professionalism, sustainability, and commercial growth in Botswana sport continue to become increasingly important.

The South League action continues!!! 🏀🇧🇼

Stills by Fisedi from a great weekend of Botswana basketball!!

GRADUATION FEATURE: BOTSWANA BASKETBALL ELITE SCHOLARS

The Elite Scholarship Programme, facilitated through the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) in partnership with associations such as the Botswana Basketball Association (BBA), continues to provide opportunities for high performing young basketball athletes to pursue both academic and sporting excellence beyond Botswana.

The highly competitive programme targets student-athletes who demonstrate not only basketball talent, but also academic readiness, discipline, character, and the capacity to represent Botswana in both educational and elite sport environments abroad.

Once selected, these Elite Scholars transition into university systems abroad where they are required to balance sport and studies. In previous features with Courtside Botswana, some of the athletes have shared experiences of navigating injuries, cultural adjustment, academic pressure, and the challenges of living away from home while continuing to pursue excellence.

As some of these Elite Scholars graduate and complete this important chapter of their journeys, Courtside Botswana takes a moment to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements.

Their stories reflect what is possible when opportunity meets discipline and determination. They also serve as inspiration to the next generation of young Batswana basketball players who are still dreaming, still working, and still believing that they too can earn their place beyond borders 🇧🇼

MORE THAN A PLAYER: THE STORY OF ATANG NKOANE’S BASKETBALL JOURNEY

Atang Nkoane’s basketball journey is proof that sometimes the game gives you something greater than what you originally dreamed of. Through the Elite Scholarship Programme offered by the Botswana National Sport Commission, Atang earned the opportunity to move to the United States, where he attended University of San Francisco to study Computer Science while pursuing his basketball dream.

Only months after arriving, Atang tore the ACL in his right knee, a devastating setback for any athlete, especially while being thousands of kilometres away from home. Unable to play, he was forced to rediscover himself and realise there was more to basketball than just playing.

Through TEAM Inc. in Oakland, he was introduced to video coordination, film breakdown, and basketball operations. He later earned certification in Hudl Sportscode and attended NBA Summer League, where he connected with coaches, scouts, and executives from across the basketball world.

He eventually joined the USF Women’s Basketball programme as a practice player before later becoming a part-time Video Coordinator with the team.
The journey, however, was far from glamorous.
Balancing school, basketball, film work, road trips, and life away from home often meant long nights, exhaustion, and sacrifice behind the scenes.

For many young athletes, basketball dreams are often imagined only through points, trophies, and professional contracts, but Atang Nkoane’s story is a reminder that sometimes the game opens doors we never expected and that purpose can still be found, even after everything changes.

Now, Atang hopes to one day return home and pour everything he has learned back into Botswana basketball, with aspirations of coaching the national team in the future.

PHOKOJE AS A FIBA NATIONAL REFEREE INSTRUCTOR: WHAT IT MEANS FOR BOTSWANA BASKETBALL

Botswana basketball has taken another important step toward technical growth and self reliance with the appointment of Mothusi Phokoje as a FIBA certified National Referee Instructor.

Phokoje’s achievement represents more than a personal milestone, it is a structural gain for basketball in Botswana. According to Mothusi Phokoje, FIBA National Referee Instructor is responsible for training, assessing, and mentoring referees at national level. The role includes running FIBA approved referee clinics, helping certify and upgrade officials, interpreting FIBA rule changes, and guiding referees toward international standards.

Previously, the country often depended on expertise from outside to conduct certain referee development programs. With a National Instructor in place, Botswana now has the capacity to run more local FIBA Level 1 and Level 2 clinics, making referee education more accessible and sustainable. Better trained referees mean more consistent decisions, smoother game management, safer environments for players, and stronger confidence in the integrity of competitions as improved officiating raises the standard of the game itself

Phokoje will also serve as Botswana’s official interpreter of FIBA rules, helping players, coaches, and officials stay aligned with international basketball standards and rule updates. In addition, the position creates a direct link between Botswana Basketball Association structures and FIBA Africa’s referee development systems.

Furthermore, Phokoje stated that becoming a National Referee Instructor is not a role handed out lightly. One must first have served as a FIBA International Referee, a reflection of years of experience, credibility, and technical understanding of the game.

For aspiring referees in Botswana, Phokoje’s appointment also creates a clearer pathway for growth. Young officials now have closer access to mentorship, evaluation, and opportunities to progress toward international certification.

Follow for more on Courtside Botswana.

“Every young girl brave enough to take the court changes the future of the game a little more.”

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

To the mothers who wake up early for practice runs, sit through long tournaments, wash jerseys late at night, pray through injuries, celebrate every small victory, and continue showing up even when nobody notices and to the mothers who ball hard like no one has seen before!

Thank you and we are proud of you!🌸

Today, Courtside Botswana celebrates the strength, love, patience, and support of mothers in basketball and beyond.

BASKETBALL WELL REPRESENTED AT THE BNSC AWARDS

OKATCH SCOOPS REFEREE OF THE YEAR

Botswana basketball referee Dorothy Okatch was named Referee of the Year at the 45th National Sport Awards.

This award is a recognition of the growing standard and contribution of basketball officials in Botswana and beyond.

For every whistle blown, every difficult decision made, and every game managed with professionalism, the work matters.

Congratulations to Dorothy Okatch on a well deserved honour.