The Voice (Francistown)
29 April 2008
Notwane Netball Club will this weekend play their part in the fight against HIV/AIDS when they host a six-team tournament in Gaborone.
The two-day competition, to be played at the Botswana netball Courts and dubbed the "HIV/AIDS 'Youth Under-20 Tournament", will also involve voluntary testing and the sharing of information on HIV/AIDS.
A news release by the Botswana Netball Association says the tournament is aimed at making HIV/AIDS education part of netball, use sports as platform to strive for an HIV/AIDS free nation by 2016, sensitise the girl on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, instill the spirit of tolerance to help fight stigma and discrimination, to help mould a responsible and disciplined girl child and encourage teams to develop netball.
Quizzed on why they had targeted under-20 players, BONA Secretary General, Gracious Koaone Seru, explained that "this is an initiative by Notwane to educate young players on HIV/AIDS and also encourage teams to have junior teams. The future of the sport lies with young players and this is a good development for our sport and players. I must add that everybody is welcome. Notwane must be commended for coming up with the project."
Seru revealed that PSI, YOHO and Tebelopele will have stands at the tourney. PSI and YOHO will provide information on HIV/AIDS whilst Tebelopele will offer counseling and free testing.
As part of the programme, politician and musician Gomolemo Motswaledi will give a motivational talk and an unnamed HIV/AIDS activist will also speak at the event.
The six teams expected to take part in the tournament, which kicks off at 12 noon, are Notwane, Moshupa Lovers, Phikwe Prisons, Flying Hawks, Jungle Queens and BDF Cats.
According to Ntebo Mocuminyane, the event Project Manager, there will be no prize money for the teams.
"We will give medals and certificates as a token of appreciation. There will also be floating trophies for the top three teams. We also have miniature trophies for the best player and the most disciplined player. I think the discipline prize is the most important as the fight against HIV/AIDS is most about behavior," said Mocuminyane.
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