Propellers Sports Academy today formally unveiled its new strategic direction and value proposition, marking its evolution from a swimming-focused institution into a structured, multi-disciplinary sports academy.
Long recognised for swimming excellence, Propellers has expanded its mandate to include gymnastics, basketball, netball and athletics, with structured ambitions to introduce badminton, table tennis, karate and roller skating in future phases.
The announcement was made during a stakeholder and media briefing held in Gaborone, positioned as the first major step in the Academy’s broader strategic rollout .
Speaking at the briefing, Co-Founder and Managing Director Simon Tshwaane said the shift reflects institutional maturity rather than departure.
“An academy implies structure, pathways and sustainability. It means we are not simply running programmes; we are building an ecosystem that supports athlete progression across disciplines.”
“We are not moving away from swimming. We are building on the discipline, structure and excellence that defined our swimming programme, and applying it to a broader, more integrated sports development model.”
From Club to Academy
The repositioning signals a transition from a single-discipline club to an academy model built around long-term athlete development, structured systems and holistic youth growth.
Operations Director and Partner Onkemetse Solomon Mpusetsang explained:
“An academy implies structure, pathways and sustainability. It means we are not simply running programmes; we are building an ecosystem that supports athlete progression across disciplines.”
“Our ambition is not to participate in sport development,” Tshwaane added.
“It is to institutionalise it.”
Purpose-Driven Expansion
The Academy’s expansion is anchored in a clarified purpose: to unlock potential through structured, transformative sport development.
As part of its strategic roadmap, Propellers will launch a Public Schools Programme later this year , aimed at broadening access and strengthening grassroots athlete identification.
The Academy is also developing a White Paper on Sports Business , positioning itself as a thought leader in the sustainability and commercial viability of sport development in Botswana.
National Impact
This evolution forms part of a broader campaign rollout designed to establish Propellers Sports Academy as a structured contributor to Botswana’s youth development ecosystem.
“Our ambition is not to participate in sport development,” Tshwaane added.
“It is to institutionalise it.”
