Africa
Going for posts, Unstoppable inclusion with Rugby Africa
Fatma’s journey in rugby began with coincidence, much like many of the greats in the game, Rugby has been a quest of growing one’s confidence. Back in 2015, without any prior experience in playing rugby, Fatma had only attended rugby games as a spectator, most of which were only played by men. After a life changing suggestion for a new hobby from a friend, she made it out to the rugby field behind her office and there her story began, with the support of other female players. When she picked up the oval ball for the first time, she knew that she had found what she had been searching for.
Despite champions of Rugby in Botswana like Fatma campaigning for its broad-based promotion, Rugby and more importantly as a sport for women, has largely remained a sport which exhibits great potential for growth. Fatma exclaims that in Botswana, Rugby for women is hardly discussed. On the other hand, this has not left her, and other Unstoppables demotivated, in fact the value of their work is the single greatest force behind the grassroots development of the game. Her work has been applauded by World Rugby and Rugby Africa, amongst many other organisations and institutions seeking to promote women empowerment. Through the work of Fatma and others, future sports women will join or learn from the sport.
In her own career as a player, Fatma has seen a marked improvement in the participation of more teams in the women’s league. With the number of players increasing over the years, she anticipates that there will be more athletes from school rugby, advancing to league rugby. Further to this she believes that there will also be more women as coaches and referees in the near future- unstoppable.
As part of her outreach efforts, Fatma launched the “A Try for Change”, which is a grassroots initiative to empower girls through the sport. She and others seek to conscientize young women and girls to grow their self-confidence, as a means of unlocking their true potential in society. Rugby is used as a medium of instruction, but the goal of her work is to empower attendees to become agents of change in their respective communities- on or off the field of play. The programme is targeted at primary school leavers and includes modules on introspective exercises, recreational activities with learning objectives, mentorships, as well as preparatory programs in enterprise development.
Coming from a conservative background which does not prioritise the involvement of women in sports, Fatma has vigorously worked to change perceptions of elders and community leaders, to work with their support. She has opened way for reports and researched findings, to find their way into the hands of key decision makers. Overall, the programme has received a positive reception from participants, teachers and the Botswana Rugby Union, and plans are already afoot to run ‘A Try for Change’ again in the new year.
Based on the feedback she has received working with young girls, Fatma used the global “Try & Stop Us” campaign to address the issue of Gender Based Violence affecting women and children inher community. As an Unstoppable leader, she is breaking the silence of abuse in communities by raising awareness around civil liberties and justice. She deeply empathises with young girls who are not taught about building their confidence in school, as the priority is generally put on teaching the standard course curriculum. Sessions with Fatma and her team have become safe and supportive structures for personal development in the schools and communities they serve.
Fatma believes that instilling self-confidence in young women sets them up for life, not only for them to be leaders in the future, but more importantly now, for them to be able to tackle head on collisions with Gender Based Violence and many other scourges of society.
President of the Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee at Rugby Africa, Ms Paula Lancoemphasised that, “the WRAC and creation of its sub-committees will ultimately help increase awareness of women in rugby, attracting more tournaments and partnerships with sponsors, increasing the overall popularity of the game in the continent.”
According to Maha Zaoui, Women’s Manager Rugby Africa, “With the impact COVID-19 has placed globally, we are able to work with the sub-committees to overcome challenges the pandemic has placed on world sports and identifying untapped opportunities,”.
For Fatma, Rugby has been life changing not just for her career as a person, but more importantly it has empowered her as an individual to transform the lives of many. Her personal journey has become a reference point for others, who share in her passion and struggle for inclusion in different parts of their lives. Her outreach work has won many over and today has set the foundation for unstoppable future female leaders in Botswana and Africa at large, who have been transformed through the philosophy of the game.
Source: Rugby Africa.
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Premier Bet, the leading sports betting and online casino brand, has announced the renewal and expansion of its partnership with Francis Ngannou as its Pan-African Brand Ambassador. This exciting partnership will see Francis Ngannou feature in Premier Bet’s upcoming marketing campaigns, promotional activities and CSR projects.
Francis Ngannou, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, professional boxer and now Chairman of PFL Africa has signed as Premier Bet & Partners Brand Ambassador until 2027. Renowned globally for his knockout power and inspiring rise from humble beginnings in Cameroon to the pinnacle of global combat sports, Francis Ngannou embodies resilience, ambition and African pride — qualities that strongly align with Premier Bet’s identity and mission.
Alexandre Qader, Director of Operations at Premier Bet Cameroon, said: “We are thrilled to extend the collaboration with our great champion Francis Ngannou and broaden his connection to the Premier Bet family and beyond. I think we clearly share the same visions. We have the same ambitions in Cameroon and now on a Pan-African scale. Francis’ passion, drive and humility make him an ideal partner for us as we continue to grow our brand and connect with our customers.”
Francis Ngannou said: “We’ve already been working together for three years and I’m excited to move forward in this collaboration, to deepen our relationships and get to know each other better. By expanding the partnership across the entire African continent, this solidifies my trust and commitment to the brand.
“Premier Bet is a company that shares my commitment to fair play, a passion for sport and a focus on the customer and their communities.”
As Brand Ambassador, Francis Ngannou will play an active role in promoting responsible gambling, participate in exclusive events, provide expert insights and champion CSR projects that aim to uplift African communities.
This strategic partnership is a significant milestone in Premier Bet’s journey on its mission to continue as the No.1 gaming brand in Africa.
The post Premier Bet Announces Francis Ngannou as its Pan-African Brand Ambassador appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
NOVOMATIC Africa has announced that it has reached a major operational milestone: the local assembly of its popular Panther FV623D and FV624D Limited Payout Machines (LPMs) is now fully underway in South Africa. This strategic development marks a critical step in the company’s commitment to regional growth, operational agility and technological excellence.
The initiative was born out of post-pandemic global supply challenges, where machine delivery lead times were significant. To address this, NOVOMATIC Africa made the strategic decision to localise certain production capabilities—shortening timelines, reducing dependency on international shipments, and contributing to the local economy and empowerment.
At the helm of the project is Mohamed Abdullah, Technical & Operations Manager, who leads a team of highly skilled, internationally trained technical professionals.
After extensive planning and cross-border collaboration, NOVOMATIC Africa equipped a dedicated assembly area within its new Midrand facility. The space was enhanced with the necessary tooling, shelving and safety systems to handle high-volume pre-assembly processes, including monitor and bill validator modules.
This ambitious three-year journey—culminating in South Africa’s first locally assembled Panther LPMs—was not only a triumph of logistics and innovation but also a testament to human expertise, resilience and visionary leadership.
To ensure full compliance and alignment with both NOVOMATIC AG (Austria) and local regulatory standards, the project included:
• Acquisition of an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safety Test Machine
• Establishment of robust quality control protocols
• Integration with the NAG central database
• Development of a structured pre-assembly line for key components
• Empowering Local Talent
“Investing in people has been the most important part of this journey. Yes, we’re building machines. But more importantly, we’re building capability—equipping our team here in South Africa with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to meet global benchmarks,” said Mohamed Abdullah.
NOVOMATIC Africa’s investment in local production is more than a tactical solution—it’s a long-term strategic move aimed at strengthening the company’s footprint across the continent.
As demand continues to grow, the company remains focused on building a resilient, skilled local workforce and continuing its mission to deliver high-quality, technically advanced gaming machines for Africa’s evolving gaming landscape.
The post NOVOMATIC Africa Launches Local Assembly for Panther LPMs, Driving Innovation and Growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider of iGaming software solutions, releases a new regulated market overview, ‘iGaming in South Africa 2025’. The report serves as a comprehensive guide to South Africa’s online gambling landscape, offering operators and stakeholders insights into the market’s size, regulatory framework, and emerging trends.
South Africa’s iGaming sector is experiencing robust growth, driven by digital adoption and evolving player behaviour. While the broader gambling market in South Africa is projected to generate approximately €3.63 billion in gross gambling revenue (GGR) by the end of 2025, betting already dominates, accounting for about 60.5% of the total earnings.
Mobile wagering, in particular, now generates the lion’s share of online betting turnover – roughly 81% of bets are placed via smartphones and tablets – a trend fueled by South Africa’s high smartphone penetration and the convenience of on-the-go betting. Together, these factors point to a developed digital betting ecosystem driving the overall gambling industry’s expansion.
“With this SOFTSWISS market report, we highlight our commitment to the dynamic potential of South Africa’s iGaming market. Backed by our global expertise and local insight, SOFTSWISS is well-positioned to address the region’s unique needs and opportunities. These insights will help shape our strategy and ensure our solutions stay aligned with the evolving South African iGaming landscape,” said Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Commercial Officer at SOFTSWISS.
The ‘iGaming in South Africa’ report also highlights the complex regulatory landscape that operators must navigate. Gambling in South Africa is governed by both the National Gambling Board and nine provincial licensing authorities, each with its own rules and requirements. This layered system means companies need careful compliance strategies to enter and operate across different provinces.
Despite the regulatory fragmentation and challenges such as a 15% VAT on betting transactions, South Africa remains highly attractive to local and international investors. The report notes that trends in player engagement are reshaping the market: operators are increasingly incorporating gamification and social play elements to appeal to younger, digital-savvy bettors.
Popular casino-style games are introduced in fixed-odds betting formats to comply with current laws, which prohibit traditional online casinos nationally. These innovative adaptations – for example, number-based games and ‘crash’ games presented as sports wagers – allow players to enjoy casino-like content within the legal betting framework, reflecting a creative industry response to regulatory constraints.
This new market analysis follows SOFTSWISS’ recent expansion in South Africa. Earlier in June, the company made its first major public appearance in the country in the tech field as a partner of Africa Tech Week 2025 in Cape Town. At the event, SOFTSWISS showcased its technology solutions and shared insights on digital resilience and innovation in African markets.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Report: South Africa’s Gambling Revenue to Hit €3.63 Billion by 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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