NDB hosts Inter-Bank Games

National Development Bank (NDB) will host this year’s Inter-Bank Games from August 18th.The annual collective sports event, amongst the local financial institutions started 11 years ago, as an attempt to raise funds and give back to the community.

This year’s competition includes eight sporting codes, under both indoor and outdoor games, according to chairman of Inter Club, Brian Ketshabile. He explained that the choice of the sporting codes depended on the followership of the general society. They include Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Netball, Darts, Table Tennis, Pool and Aerobathon. Ketshabile also stated that they have therefore included everyone by the selection of their sporting codes in order to promote health and fitness. “This year we have added Golf, the sport that is regarded to be belonging to the high earned because we wanted to attract everyone,” he said.

The inter-games are meant to provide a networking platform and interaction within financial sectors.  Outdoor games are expected to start on August 18th at Phakalane Golf Estate, where Golf will be played at 12:00hrs, followed by football on the 20th at Lekidi Grounds, as well as Volleyball at Tsholofelo Park Courts at 09:00 hrs and Netball at the courts still to be confirmed. On the other hand, Indoor games will be taking place on August 19th, with Table Tennis and Pool played at Botho University Hall and Darts at BoB Grounds. All games will start at 19:00 hrs.

Ketshabile expressed gratitude to Botswana Netball Association (BONA) for helping them to host a successful competition. The drugs and health division of the ministry of health will use the games to promote health and wellness. Employees will get a chance to be tested for lifestyle diseases such as Hypertension and Sugar Diabetes while the Drugs and Alcohol Division will sensitise people on the use of alcohol and substance abuse.

Financial literacy will also be available during the games. “Financial Literacy is essential for every individual or family and during the interbank activities, we take time to set up for financial institution to educate the public about banking products, financial management and access to loan facilities,” he explained. When Interbank started 11 years ago, only half of the number of financial institutions participated, but now almost all banks take part.

This year, depending on funds raised, the committee intends to organise a day or two-day entrepreneurial seminar where youth in businesses can get advice and be mentored. One of the followers of Interbank games, Goitseone Setlhodi, says that she cannot wait to see who is going to secure the chairmanship this year. “I trust my bank, FNB and hope that they will play very well to make us the bankers proud,” she said.