Debswana mines football talent alongside diamonds

The top three executives of Debswana diamond mining teams of Orapa United and Jwaneng Galaxy are exhilarated.

Their commitment to the philosophy of making their mining towns great places to work and live is finally paying off. Without doubt, Debswana’s bold decision to have one team per town with developmental sides has paid dividends.For the first time ever, teams from mining towns will debut in the finals of the prestigious and lucrative Mascom Top 8 which carries a prize tag of P1.2 m on April Fool’s Day (it’s not a prank!) The development has brought vibe to the mining towns and communities.

Speaking to The Midweek Sun, in separate exclusive interviews, the three mines’ top executives- Debswana Managing Director, Balisi Bonyongo, General Managers of Jwaneng and Orapa mines Milton Albert and Bakani Motlhabani concur on one fact:Debswana has provided support to these teams in line with their commitment to leave a lasting diamond legacy in the country with emphasis on the areas in which their mines are located.Like a true father on that day,Bonyongo will not be supporting any team.

He says he is looking forward to the clash of the Ostriches, who will be defending the cup and the debutants, Galaxy who in their second year in the Premier League, have surpassed all expectations to debut in the Mascom Top 8 finals. “I believe that both teams are already winners for having reached the finals and I support both. May the best team on the day win,” he said.

The elated Bonyongo said the ascendance of Jwaneng Galaxy and Orapa United to the final of the Mascom Top 8 is a cause for celebration for the communities in and around the mining towns and a source of pride for Debswana employees.

“The success of these two teams is a representation of Debswana’s commitment to the philosophy of making our mining towns great places to work and live”. He said Debswana has provided support to these teams in line with its commitment to leave a lasting diamond legacy in the country with emphasis on the areas in which their mines are located.Jwaneng Galaxy and Orapa United have demonstrated that there is just as much to look forward to in Orapa and Jwaneng as there is in Gaborone and Francistown.

“We have seen the vibe and energy that these teams have created in Boteti and Jwaneng areas from the moment they both started plying their trade in the country’s top league. This is a very exciting time in the history of both Orapa and Jwaneng”.

Football is a sport that brings together masses and creates a sense of belonging. He said the two teams have brought the people of the Boteti and Jwaneng areas together in a sense of collective achievement. “Through the league games our communities congregate every weekend to rally behind their teams and the success on the playground for these teams resonates even beyond the playing field, as we have seen the following for these teams grow year on year,” said Bonyongo.

When the fans are happy and united behind their teams, the results usually show through their team on the pitch and many attest that visiting Itekeng Stadium or Galaxy Football Ground as an away fan and player is an intimidating undertaking. These stadia have become “theatres of dreams” in their own way and they have brought life, energy and fun to the mining towns.

“I have already congratulated the two teams through their managers and coaches for their outstanding achievement of reaching the Top 8 final, and encourage them to continue being the shining example to the many young and old who watch them week in and week out,” he said, adding, “Today we are proud to say we are mining football talent alongside diamonds, thus turning the dreams of some of these players into lasting reality”.The cool and collected, gentle giant, Milton said their story started in 2013.

At the time Jwaneng mine had many teams, but none of them was playing top flight football. Realising that they are not going anywhere, a few administrators amongst them, the present chairman Njabulo Gilika, Koolatotse who became the transitional chairman, the late Kealeboga Ramogobwa and Albert came up with the initiative to have one team.

“I gave the steering committee the go-ahead and it did not take long before Ramogobwa came to me with an answer”. Milton says that Ramogobwa’s feedback was that his committee has agreed that they will have one team, “but they have given me the honours to name the team”. Ironically,Ramogobwa said they have decided that the team must be named Galaxy after the town’s recreational facility which also has a stadium. “I wanted to name it Jwaneng United, but he insisted that Galaxy was the most suitable and neutral name”, said Albert.

He explained that although the initiative and sponsor comes from the mine, Galaxy remains a community team and that surrounding villages such as Sese come to a standstill when the team plays. “People no longer travel to Lobatse or Gaborone to watch top flight football, but rather come to Galaxy stadium”. Milton revealed that the next celebrations for Galaxy will be held in Sese village as a way of thanking the community.

“We decided to sponsor this team to contribute to the growth and development of football in the country and this improvement will also the reflected within the Zebras our pride.” Milton’s parting shot was that it is a fact that “we will trot into the finals as underdogs, but I caution all to undermine us at their own peril as we are competing.

Just to show that we are united, we have the support of the Jwaneng leadership in the form of the mayor and Dikgosi who never miss any game”.Orapa General Manager, Motlhabani said they are happy with the progress and success of the team in terms of partnering with the community. The team has uplifted the regional status to great heights as evidenced by the fact that the regional leadership is full of praise for them. “We are talking of cup holders who are on the verge of making it two in a row.

If you come to Orapa today, you will realise that the people are happy. The impact that the team is making in the entire Boteti region is amazing. I have congratulated the leadership. All I can say is that Batswana must brace themselves for a great game as it can go either way”.

However, his take is that United will go all the way to lift the cup. Motlhabani who last year bought all the players Ipads over and above the P10, 000 for each player, could not be drawn to say what incentives they’ve prepared for the boys this time save that, “we do not want to distract then, but for sure something will be worked out”. The winner will represent the country in the continental Club champions competition.