Africa-Press – Botswana. In a thrilling final clash in Gaborone on Sunday evening, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) secured the Ditsala International Cup, edging out their American counterparts, Bring It Promotions (BIP).
The intense volleyball match saw HBCU clinching two sets: 25-15 and 25-23 before narrowly losing the third set 13-25 to BIP, ultimately claiming the victory. Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe graced the event, taking the opportunity to commend the participating athletes from Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia and the United States.
He expressed admiration for their dedication and the inspiring example they set for others, adding that the youth are not the leaders of tomorrow but the leaders of today.
Gaolathe highlighted the importance of athletes dedicating time to hone their craft and acknowledged their role in shaping the future.
In an interview with the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF), vice president, administration, Ndibo Lebala shared insights into the tournament’s history.
He explained that this was the second year of the event, a partnership between the BVF and BIP from the USA.
The collaboration, which aims to promote sports tourism, dates back to 2018, expanding from Europe, Asia and parts of America into Africa. Lebala recounted that the inaugural tournament in 2019 featured only two universities – Howard University and A5, before the COVID-19 pandemic paused activities.
Post-pandemic, the BVF organised coaching clinics and brought 19 players and coaches to Botswana and also visiting sites like Mokolodi, Khama Rhino Sanctuary and Kasane to promote sports tourism.
In 2024, Lebala plans to make the tournament an annual event, shifting from a four-year cycle was revealed.
This year’s edition attracted an impressive 19 universities from the USA, forming four teams, alongside national teams from Lesotho U19 (preparing for the Region 5 Games in Namibia), Zambia and Botswana.
The competition, which featured eight teams, started on Friday and concluded on Sunday, incorporating training sessions and coaching clinics held at local schools such as Bokamoso Junior Secondary, Maikano Junior Secondary, Ledumang, and Camp Primary Schools.
Initially, the tournament focused exclusively on women’s teams with the aim of qualifying for the Olympics. Lebala explained that although the current emphasis remains on women’s participation, there is potential to include male teams in future editions, especially as interest from more countries grows.
The USA teams will continue their visit with excursions to Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Francistown, and Kasane, where they will conduct coaching clinics and donate equipment, further fostering sports tourism.
The event culminated in an awards ceremony where the Minister of International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale explained sports diplomacy’s power to unite diverse cultures and promote peace.
He praised the inclusion of coaching clinics as a valuable addition, noting that sport is an area where Botswana can excel and generate economic benefits through tourism. HBCU took home gold medals, followed by BIP with silver. Zambia earned bronze, while Botswana finished in fourth place, with Lesotho coming last.
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