Kasane Athletics Club in partnership with Maun BDF Athletics Club will host the Chobe Track and Field Championships, a competition that marks a significant step toward advancing sport in Chobe District, particularly athletics.
Kasane Athletics Club has secured a five-year partnership with Maun BDF Athletics Club to host track and field events and marathons.
The Chobe Track and Field Championships will be held on the 1st August 2026 at Chobe Junior Secondary School grounds in Kasane. Over 500 athletes from Chobe and other areas have registered for the championships.
The athletes will compete in different track races that include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m. The age categories that will be featured in the event comprise youth (15-17 years), juniors (18-19 years), and seniors (20 years and above).
The event is sponsored by Travel Lodge which has provided medals that will be awarded to the winners. Officials from the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) have been invited to the event.
In an interview, Kasane Athletics Club Founder, Charles Lubinda noted that through their collaboration with Maun BDF Athletics Club they intend to identify and develop the next generation of talent in Chobe District.
Lubinda highlighted the importance of their collaboration with Maun BDF Athletics Club, citing that his club is newly established therefore they intend to gain knowledge from Maun BDF Athletics Club which has been in existence for a long time.
Lubinda believes that the five year long term partnership with Maun BDF Athletics Club will bear fruit in terms of achieving their mandate of developing talent in Chobe.
He noted that shortage of sport facilities in the district is still a concern, citing that hosting track events on bare soil surface makes it hard for athletes to record valid times or distances.
However, Lubinda highlighted that upon the completion of the Kasane Mini Stadium which consists of a running track such challenges will be addressed.
Maun BDF Athletics Club Coach, Amogelang Masugae also emphasised the importance of the championships, citing that they will help identify hidden sport talent in rural areas. Masugae noted that sport is a powerful tool that, when supported well can improve the community livelihoods.
Masugae stated North West District consists of talented athletes like Leungo Scotch and Kethobogile Haingura who developed their world-class talents through structured grassroots pathway, citing that this can also be the case in Chobe. Masugae said that his plan is to establish Centre for Sport development in Chobe District to develop sport at the grass root level.
