Betway Cares Foundation Champions Grassroots Sports Development in Botswana
Kanye is the first community to benefit from the Betway Cares Foundation initiative, with a P4.3 million modern sports facility underway at Montshiwa Grounds.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of Sport and Art Jacob Kelebeng commended the foundation’s contribution, describing it as a major step towards addressing the long-standing lack of sports infrastructure in communities such as Kanye. He noted that the project “marked a monumental step forward,” demonstrating how collaboration between government and the private sector can drive national progress.
The state-of-the-art complex will include new ablution facilities, a running track, a football pitch, a guard room, tuck shop, and storage areas all powered by solar energy. Beyond infrastructure, Kelebeng emphasized that the facility would become “a sanctuary for talent, a hub for community wellness, and a launch pad for future champions.”
He explained that the grounds would offer structured training for football and athletics while providing a platform for cultural and artistic expression. The project, he added, is a long-awaited dream for the community and represents an investment in youth development, discipline, teamwork, and local pride.
Kelebeng also lauded Betway Cares Foundation for its unwavering commitment to social responsibility, noting that the P4.3 million investment symbolizes “jobs, sports leagues, performances and Olympic dreams.” He added that the project would generate both direct and indirect employment, with local artists contributing to the design and beautification of the facility through wall murals.
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Additionally, the initiative is expected to promote skills transfer, empower local contractors, and support Botswana’s drive toward sports tourism and economic diversification. The minister assured residents that the government would oversee the project’s completion with transparency and quality, urging the community to take ownership of the facility’s upkeep.
Betway Botswana Country Manager, Michelle France–Mabiletsa, said Kanye was chosen as the first beneficiary to honor and uplift communities that nurture local champions. She noted that the initiative is not just about financial investment but about building hope and opportunity. Quoting her own words, she reflected that “every monumental success, every record broken, and every medal won has its genesis in silence, obscurity and starts in the dust.”
World 400-metre champion Collen Kebinatshipi, a proud native of Kanye, expressed gratitude for the project, saying the facility would make training more accessible for local athletes and ease transport challenges to Lobatse. He said the new sports complex will inspire future generations and help nurture more champions from Kanye and beyond.
