JUICY PARTNERSHIP Dynamites players set to score off the court with Abotle Juice agency initiative

Local company Abotle Distributors has taken another bold step in empowering locals by teaming up with Dynamites Volleyball Academy as hydration partners in a working relationship that blends sport, wellness, and entrepreneurship.

The empowerment initiative, which began last week, gives Dynamites players the opportunity to become agents of Abotle Juice, supplying shops, supermarkets, and outlets in their designated areas while generating revenue for themselves. The first player to take up the mantle is Ofentse Fenyi Mothetho, who has been appointed as the sole agent for Sefhare and Machaneng areas. This means that any business in those areas wishing to stock Abotle Juice will be supplied directly by Fenyi, making her the face of the brand in her community.

The programme is part of a broader collaboration between Dynamites and Abotle Distributors that has already seen the company provide organic Abotle Juice to players, sponsor playing uniforms, and donate 12-pack cartons of juice to Under-13 team members on their birthdays.

As the National Volleyball League kicks off late in February, Abotle Juice is expected to become a prominent feature at Dynamites matches alongside the academy’s water hydration partners Gamalte Aqualife.

Abotle Distributors’ CEO Joseph Gabalebatse said the partnership was born out of a shared vision to support budding entities with promise for the future. “As a budding company, we wanted to support another budding entity which holds promise for a juicy future. After all, quality always locates quality. Many of the best senior players in Botswana’s volleyball league today have gone through Dynamites’ development programme. No national team can be called without a product of Dynamites Volleyball Academy. Our aim is to see the club grow into a formidable side that will be able to keep its players, unlike the current situation where they face the challenge of losing their developed talent to well-resourced and financially stronger teams,” he said.

He added: “For the longest time I have admired the resilience of the club’s founder, Joe-Brown Tlhaselo. I have seen his passion and selflessness through the years, even as far back as when he formed Spiking Stars Volleyball Club in Ramotswa while still a university student, showing deep love for that team and even giving them the nickname MaWet, which he said means ‘the beautiful ones.’ Today he is still showing the same love for volleyball and Dynamites, even with limited resources. In similar fashion, the team, I hear, is called Mazothi, which also basically means ‘beautiful ladies.’ He needs the support of the corporate world to see his project

through, and that’s why we at Abotle Distributors have found it prudent to support the team as a collective and even as individuals.”

Speaking on the partnership, Dynamites’ president Tlhaselo praised Abotle Distributors for demonstrating compassion and a clear understanding that sport in Botswana can only grow when business entities step forward to partner with sporting organisations. “Companies do not sponsor sports teams because they are already big; rather, companies grow big because they sponsor,” Tlhaselo said, noting that Abotle’s gesture reflects a deeper commitment to community empowerment. He added that the example set by Abotle should inspire other businesses to emulate the initiative, helping to empower young people across Botswana through sport and entrepreneurship. Tlhaselo emphasized that such partnerships are not just about financial support, but about building a sustainable future where athletes can thrive both on and off the court.

The partnership, which began in 2024, is expected to be officially launched in 2026 on a date yet to be announced. In the meantime, more Dynamites players, including past veterans and supporters, are expected to join the initiative and become agents of Abotle Juice in their respective areas, creating a network of athlete-entrepreneurs who will carry the brand into communities across Botswana.

Speaking on the matter, Fenyi expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to her by Abotle Distributors, saying she already feels like a business person having even managed to convince some local stores to have the juice in their refrigerators. “The business is great. So far I managed to sell some cases even when the weather was unfavourable. So I hope to do even better as I am focusing on getting more shops to embrace the juice,” Fenyi said.

Abotle Juice itself has quickly become a household name since its establishment in 2021, offering 100 percent natural fruit juice with no sugar, sweeteners, preservatives, additives, or colourants. Not made from concentrates, the juice has earned a reputation for authentic taste and nutritional value, while also striking distribution deals beyond Botswana. Many swear it is the best juice to ever grace the shelves of Botswana’s retail outlets, and are even in awe to learn it is a Botswana juice. Even state president Duma Boko, as well as former president Mokgweetsi Masisi have been seen on social media and television, receiving the juice with reactions of approval.

The company’s growth mirrors the ambition of Dynamites Volleyball Academy, both entities striving to make their mark locally and internationally.

For Dynamites, the partnership is more than sponsorship; it is empowerment. By giving players the chance to become agents, Abotle is helping them build entrepreneurial skills while staying connected to the sport. As the season approaches, the sight of Abotle Juice bottles courtside will symbolize not just hydration, but opportunity, with Dynamites players proving that they can score both on and off the court.