Cheers for Boipuso
The Botswana Cheerleading Federation (BCF) will host a cheerleading festival on September 30th, 2023. This event will feature a parade and a range of performances by local athletes to showcase their cheerleading skills. The BCF stated that the festival's goal is to assess the sport's popularity in Botswana and the skill level of its various clubs. The festival is open to the public.
The cheer festival will take place at the Little Theatre at the National Museum of Botswana, located in the heart of Gaborone. Visitors can expect to see a variety of performances throughout the day, starting early in the morning and continuing until the evening. Tickets for the event are available for purchase, and the BCF encourages all who are interested to attend. The festival is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wishes to learn more about cheerleading or explore the sport as a potential hobby or career.
According to BCF Public Relations Officer, Tirelo Ditshipi, they are excited and busy preparing for the upcoming event. She encourages all cheerleading clubs and athletes to attend, as well as the public, who are welcome to watch the exciting displays of athletic prowess. Ditshipi also emphasized the importance of this event as a platform to launch the Majorettes wing of the BCF, which has not received as much attention as the cheerleading wing.
This launch will be followed by a recruitment drive for cheerleading clubs.
“The festival is also a chance for the BCF to promote cheerleading as a fun and rewarding sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. The BCF hopes that this festival will help to grow the cheerleading community in Botswana and encourage more people to get involved,” she mentioned.
She further explained that the festival will feature all aspects of cheerleading, including dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, and artistic displays by majorettes. The public can expect a display of artistic and athletic skill that will leave them in awe and impressed by the hard work and talent of their athletes. “At the carnival, we plan to feature freestyle pom and other non-competitive cheerleading activities. Though the growth of the sport has been slow, we see the potential for cheerleading to gain popularity and reach more people. That's why we are organizing this event and hope to see increased interest and participation in the sport,” Ditshipi stated.
Ditshipi went on to say, “For those interested in competitive cheerleading, it's important to understand that it requires discipline, dedication, and a willingness to work hard. You need to be prepared to train hard, learn new skills, and grow as an athlete. As you progress, you'll need to develop tactical and technical skills, and you'll compete at different levels. The competitive cheerleading journey is not an easy one, but it can be very rewarding.” He added.