Diketo Technical official, Tshegofatso Mosetlhe wants to see indigenous games have their own federation to amplify the sporting code.
Diketo, like any indigenous game, doesn’t get the exposure it deserves and the only time you will get to see the sport being played is during the National Indigenous Festivals that are held annually.
Mosetlhe would like to see indigenous games being played on world stages and becoming popular overseas.
Speaking with Tlamelo Kganakga, Mosetlhe chats more about her journey and explains what Diketo is.
Tshegofatso, thank you chatting to us. Please can you introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Tshegofatso Mosetlhe, born and bred in Mahikeng, from a small village called Mocoseng.
When and where did your love for sport begin?
My love for sport started way back after finishing school and had nothing to do like any other young person out there. So, I started gathering young kids and the youth around the community and started playing football and netball and then the department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in the North West recruited me as they saw my passion for sport.
They took me under their wing and gave me a job, and that’s how I started with the youth and got exposed to other sporting codes including indigenous games.
Please explain to us the game of Diketo in simple terms?
Diketo is a game that we grew up playing by digging up a hole on the ground and putting stones in there. How you play is you have to have one stone that you will throw up in the air and at the same time take a handful of stones from the hole and throw the stone again up to put back the stones into a hole but leave one stone behind. That’s how I can explain it in simple terms.
Diketo is one of the indigenous games that aren’t familiar to most people. Why is that and how you think it can be improved and given more exposure?
People are not familiar with diketo because there’s no exposure around it and indigenous games as a whole, especially for the young people. They are not exposed to it and growing up, diketo was only played by girls but now that mentality is slowly fading. Diketo can be played by both females and males and there’s nothing wrong with playing diketo.
I believe that the media can help expose all indigenous games by giving it more coverage.
What is your advice to someone who wants to take up Diketo as a sport?
The advice I’d give to those who want to play is that they should start. Diketo is fun and who doesn’t want to play in the mud? Don’t overthink it, just try.
Where do you want to see this sport in the near future?
Competing on the world stages, not only diketo but also indigenous games in general and people around the world learning about the games and competing.
What has been some of your career highlights?
In 2019 I represented North West at the National Indigenous Festival in Polokwane. I went as a provincial coach for diketo and this year I’ll be going to represent the province as a technical official, like an umpire/referee for indigestion games that will be held in KZN, during heritage month.
Who are some of the women athletes you admire and why?
Caster Semenya, the hardships and the ordeals she went through didn’t hold her back. She kept flying and shining brighter than ever before and didn’t give up and I love her undying spirit.
What’s your greatest career ambition?
To see indigenous games having its own active federation.
How can we celebrate our Heritage and inspire the next generation to do the same?
We can celebrate heritage by being who we are and authentic as we are. Not forget our culture, where we come from and remind ourselves of our authentic selves.
What makes you proud to be a South African?
Diversity makes me a proud South African. Being allowed to be who you want to be. Being in a country that allows you to be who you want to be, despite your race, the colour of your skin, the shape of your body – that makes me a proud South African.
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