Botswana’s skateboarding ambitions will take another significant step forward this October when national skateboarder Theo Setsetse and Botswana Skate Federation President and national team coach Mosako Chalashika travel to Asunción, Paraguay, for the 2026 World Skate Games.
Setsetse will compete in the Olympic qualification event while both he and Chalashika continue their participation in the World Skate Development Programme, a three-year scholarship initiative supported by World Skate and Olympic Solidarity. The programme forms part of Botswana’s long-term pathway towards qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games.
For Chalashika, the opportunity represents a landmark moment for the sport in Botswana.
“This is a historic milestone for skateboarding in Botswana and something our community has been working towards for many years,” he said.
He noted that despite operating with limited resources, the federation has steadily grown the sport through dedication and the support of the World Skate Development Programme, enabling Botswana to compete on the international stage.
According to Chalashika, participation at the World Skate Games is about much more than competing at a single event.
“It is an opportunity to measure ourselves against the world’s best, gain valuable experience, and continue building towards the LA28 Olympic Games,” he said. “Every qualification event helps us understand the level required to compete internationally and motivates us to keep improving.”
He added that Botswana’s participation is also intended to inspire young people across the country to view skateboarding as a legitimate competitive sport capable of opening doors to international representation.
Beyond competition, both Chalashika and Setsetse will continue their development through the World Skate Development Programme. Following the Games, Setsetse will remain in Paraguay for the athlete development component, while Chalashika will undertake the World Skate Level 2 Coaching Certification after completing his Level 1 qualification in the United States last year.
Chalashika believes the experience gained overseas will benefit the entire local skateboarding community.
“The knowledge we gain won’t stay with us; it will be brought back to Botswana,” he said.
He explained that the federation aims to improve coaching methods, establish more structured training programmes, identify promising young talent earlier, and build a stronger development pathway for future generations.
“Our goal is to create an environment where young skateboarders have better opportunities than we had, allowing them to develop with proper coaching, international standards, and a clear pathway to elite competition,” he said.
As national team coach, Chalashika will guide Setsetse through the Olympic qualification event before beginning his coaching course. While acknowledging the challenge of competing against the world’s best skateboarders, he said the experience is vital for Botswana’s Olympic aspirations.
“Our main expectation is for Theo to perform to the best of his ability and continue progressing as an athlete,” he said. “Competing against the world’s best is never easy, but this is exactly the level of competition we need to experience if we want to achieve our long-term Olympic ambitions.”
He added that the team would focus on consistency, execution and learning from every run, with each competition helping to build Setsetse’s confidence and experience.
Chalashika also hopes Botswana’s presence in Paraguay will demonstrate the country’s commitment to developing skateboarding.
“We want Botswana to be recognised as a country that is serious about developing skateboarding,” he said. “We may be one of the newer nations on the international circuit, but we are committed to building the sport the right way and creating opportunities for future generations.”
He said the federation hopes Botswana’s participation will show that, through hard work, commitment and the right support, local athletes can compete alongside the world’s best while continuing their journey towards Olympic qualification.
