- Zebras striker turns football success into a community support drive
GAZETTE REPORTER
Botswana international striker Tumisang Orebonye has launched the Tumisang Orebonye Foundation, a community initiative aimed at empowering communities and changing lives through sport and social support.
Speaking at the launch, Orebonye said the foundation was inspired by his own journey from the dusty fields of Lecheng to becoming a professional footballer.
“For years you have supported me on the pitch,” he said at the launch held in Gaborone yesterday ( Tuesday). “You have cheered my name, you have prayed for me, and you have carried me from the dusty fields of Lecheng to where I am today. Today, I stand here to give some of that back.”
Orebonye said football had provided him with a platform and a voice, but that success also came with responsibility.
“I did not start playing football to only score goals,” he said. “I started playing to change my story, and to one day help change other people’s stories too.”
Charity Tournament
The launch coincides with the third edition of the Tumisang Orebonye Charity Tournament, which will take place from 18 to 20 July 2026 in Lecheng.
Orebonye said the tournament was designed to use football as a vehicle for broader community impact.
“This year I am proud to share that through this tournament, we have built a house for one disadvantaged family in Lecheng,” he noted. “A real home. A safe place. That is what this is all about.”
He thanked teams, sponsors, volunteers and supporters who had contributed to the tournament over the past two years, saying their involvement demonstrated the impact of collective action.
Future Plans
Orebonye said that from 2027, all Tumisang Orebonye Charity Tournaments would be hosted under the foundation, allowing for expanded programmes targeting families and young people.
“This means bigger impact. More programs. More families helped. More kids given school supplies, skills training, and opportunities through sport,” he said.
Closing the launch, Orebonye encouraged young people to believe that their circumstances did not determine their future.
“Your background does not define your future. Lecheng made me. Botswana made me. Africa made me. And now it’s our turn to make sure no one is left behind,” he said.