- Dennis Mambure
When the final whistle blew on the first phase of the Absa Soccer Talent Search in December 2025 at the Dinaledi Football Academy grounds in Matebeleng, it signalled far more than the end of a tournament. It marked the beginning of something special for more than 52 young Batswana and affirmed a powerful truth: when opportunity meets intention, lives change.
The Absa Talent Search, delivered in partnership with Dinaledi Football Academy, is a national initiative that recognises the transformative role of sport in youth development, inclusion, and long-term national progress. Anchored in Absa Bank Botswana’s brand promise as expressed in the tagline “Your Story Matters,” the programme set out to answer a fundamental question: how do we create meaningful pathways for young talent, especially in communities that are often overlooked?
What followed was a bold and ambitious nationwide journey. The talent search extended scouting beyond traditional centres and into the heart of communities across Botswana. From Palapye to Francistown, Maun to Molepolole, Lobatse to Gaborone, football fields became arenas of possibility. Hundreds of youngsters, many who had never before been scouted for professional football, turned up not only to showcase their technical ability but also to be evaluated on their attitude, discipline, and hunger for opportunity.
This national outreach was intentional. Talent does not live only in cities or established structures; it thrives on dusty grounds, school fields, and village pitches. The Absa Soccer Talent Search acknowledged this reality and responded by meeting young people where they are.
Importantly, the programme looked beyond technical skill. While ball control, tactical awareness, and athletic ability were important, equal weight was placed on values such as teamwork, coachability, discipline, and commitment to education. This holistic model reflects Absa’s belief that sports development must go hand in hand with personal growth and academic progress.
From this nationwide process, more than 200 promising players emerged, and ultimately 52 exceptional young footballers advanced as finalists, 25 in the under 13 category and 27 in the under 15 group. These finalists were not simply winners of a tournament; they were identified as long term prospects for structured football and youth development.
The finals weekend brought together talent from across the country, creating a rare space of diversity, competition, and unity. Parents watched with pride, coaches with belief, and communities with renewed hope. For many of these young players, it was their first experience in a high-performance environment, one that mirrors what professional pathways demand.
The most significant outcome of the search is the absorption of all 52 finalists into the Dinaledi Football Academy development programme. This is where the real work begins. At Dinaledi, these young athletes will benefit from structured training, mentorship, life skills development, and academic support. It is a long-term investment in their futures, not a short-term reward.
Absa Bank Botswana’s partnership with the Academy sends a clear message about what strategic, purpose driven corporate citizenship can achieve. Intentional investment of this nature delivers measurable impact and strengthens communities.
When properly structured, sport can be a powerful engine for development. It can build careers on and off the field, creating players, coaches, administrators, physiotherapists, analysts, and entrepreneurs. It can open doors to scholarships, professional clubs, and international opportunities. Most importantly, it builds discipline, confidence, and a sense of belonging in young people navigating an increasingly complex world.
Football is discipline and guidance wrapped in opportunity. It provides positive engagement for young members of the community and builds character.
As we close the first phase of the programme, one thing is clear: all 52 finalists will move forward together through the Academy’s long term development pathway. The next chapter includes mentorship from dedicated coaches and continued efforts to create credible pathways for Botswana’s football talent not only nationally but also regionally and internationally.
At Absa, our ultimate goal is not only to see Batswana sports stars competing confidently abroad, but to see them return as leaders, role models, and contributors to national development.
As we turn a new page with the Absa Soccer Talent Search, we remain committed to developing our youths using different platforms such sport to empower them as they find their place and purpose in a rapidly changing world.
In the end, this partnership with Dinaledi Football Academy reminds us that football is more than a game. It is a language of hope, a tool for empowerment, and a testament to what is possible when we invest deliberately in our youth.
For the 52 finalists and the many more inspired by their journey, their stories are only just beginning. It is more than a game, and we look forward to writing their stories with them.
*Mambure is the Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Absa Bank Botswana
