Mothusi Kenosi, executive director of the Bokgoni Sporting Club in Francistown, Botswana, writes about netball as an opportunity for at-risk youth and young adults.
As the executive director of the Bokgoni Sporting Club in Francistown, Botswana, I have invested deeply in the lives of young people. The club’s doors are always open to offer young people an alternative to life on the streets. We provide education in life-skills and an environment for healthy interactions.
In addition to promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles, these activities foster social cohesion among community members.
The community in which the Bokgoni Sporting Club is located has a demography that includes many at-risk youths, who have increasingly appreciated the positive messaging of our events. The transformation that we desire is for young people to resist life on the street by spending time in the healthy spaces that we offer.
An example of this was a recent fun-filled match between two netball teams, Bokgoni Sporting Club and Sekgoma Netball Team. The friendly tournament showcased the power of sport in the relational and conciliatory work of building bridges through strengthening interpersonal and community relationships, as large numbers of fans came to cheer on their favorite teams, creating a lively and supportive atmosphere.
Through this initiative, Bokgoni Sporting Club reached out to about 100 young people during the game to share John 3:16, which talks about the sacrificial love that God has for them.
Our women’s netball team is planning a community day in September 2025.
Mission Network and its predecessor agencies and partners have been active in Botswana since 1975 working alongside African Initiated Churches and community-based initiatives.
