The courts at BMC Sports Club in Maun came to live over the weekend as the Junior Tennis Festival drew in young players aged between 5 and 14, marking another step in the ongoing effort to grow tennis at grassroots level in the region.
The event, hosted by BMC Sports Club and supported by the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), highlighted the growing interest in the sport among Maun’s youth.
Tennis coach Thabiso Ofhakae, who has been at the forefront of this development initiative, said the programme is designed to make the sport more accessible to all children, regardless of background. “We want to encourage participation of kids in the standard of play,” Ofhakae said. “If you have more kids playing tennis, definitely the performance is better.”
He explained that while tennis has always had a presence in Maun, much of it had previously been limited by cost barriers, particularly equipment and coaching fees. The current initiative aims to break those barriers and broaden access. “We’re trying to do tennis for everyone, actually. Because it’s an expensive sport in terms of equipment and coaching fees.
So now we’re trying to encourage free tennis for everyone,” he noted. “We don’t discriminate. Whether someone is from a poor background or a rich background, this is just for everyone.”
The programme draws children from various communities, and Ofhakae says the goal is not only participation but excellence. “I would love to see the kids playing at national levels and international levels. That’s the goal to have high performance players,” he said. He added that he already sees potential rising stars among the young players.
“Trust me, soon we will see their names on bigger stages,” he said with confidence.
BMC Sports Club has provided major support, covering travel and tournament participation across the country. The BTA and ITF also played a significant role in sponsoring the recent festival. However, Ofhakae says ongoing support is still needed if the children are to gain more exposure through competitive play. “We need sponsors to travel around with the kids. They need to play tournaments. Right now we have to go to Lobatse on the 7th of November and we don’t have any sponsors,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Saturday’s event was filled with energy and enthusiasm. Children took to the courts with excitement, learning new techniques while building confidence and camaraderie. The atmosphere reflected a community committed to nurturing future talent.
Parents or guardians interested in getting their children involved can simply visit BMC Sports Club for enquiries.
“Everyone is welcome,” Ofhakae emphasised.
With passion, coaching, and community support growing steadily, tennis in Maun looks set to serve up a promising new generation of players, one rally, one lesson, and one tournament at a time.
