In It to Win It

By Ophadile Gofhamodimo

The first time is a sunrise
A horizon untouched by doubt
A golden thread of light
Weaving itself into the fabric of my purpose-
That first win
A seed buried deep
Waiting to burst into Bloom
With the rain of belief
I am In It to Win It

I felt it then
As I feel it now
The heartbeat of the earth beneath my feet
As I chase dreams
Like a ball spun across a field of green
Each step a dance with destiny
Each breath a whispered promise to myself
I will rise

My soul is stitched with stories of firsts
Of Botswana’s first Olympic triumph
A spark ignited in a nation’s chest
That roared into wildfire
A victory spreading like wings
Across the sky of possibility

I carry that flame
A torch in the night
Lighting the path for every step I take-
Each poem each thought
A constellation in the map of my becoming
A galaxy of moments
Strung together by the gravity of hope

Like the ball that sails
in five-a-side battles of will
I am in it to win it-
Not for the applause
but for the rise of the sun within me
For the strength found
in every stumble and every fall
For the taste of triumph
Even on the edge of defeat

I am a Healthpreneur
tending to the garden of life-
Each step on this field
a testament to healing
to movement
to the flow of energy that shapes the soul

With every swing of the pendulum
I capture the first time again and again
Not in trophies or medals
but in the quite knowing
that I am still here-
Still writing
Still winning
Still carrying that spark
Like Botswana’s victory
Turning firsts into forevers

Here in this moment
I am not just a nominee-
I am the embodiment of every dream
Every goal kissed by the winds of faith
I stand tall
A warrior of wellness
A poet of persistence
A seeker of new beginnings-
And I am in it
To Win It
Every time

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This poem was first published in Poetry From Within (Poetry Planet Publishing House in the Philippines), a book that won Best Poet Award at the 5^th OPHIR Awards For Writers 2025:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sKzN3LxP8qe-Lwx284hSUI3edQwf6nEe/view?usp=drivesdk

Ophadile T. Gofhamodio is a dedicated writer, podcaster, poet, researcher, wellness and transformational coach who uses her creative and professional platforms to contribute to personal and communal development. Her work spans storytelling, poetry, and holistic wellness, reflecting a commitment to meaningful engagement with individuals and communities.

Her poetry has been featured in international anthologies, and she collaborates with local
artists to merge literary and visual arts. Ophadile’s upcoming booklet includes recent poems
and selected works from her anthology contributions, complemented by commissioned digital
artworks from local artists. She regularly performs at Travelodge Poetry Nights, held on the
last Thursday of each month, using these opportunities to expand her craft through recitation.
Her recent feature in Tlhakakgolo Literary Journal and Poetry Journal (Nigeria) marks a
growing presence within Botswana’s literary scene and a focus on local and international
collaborations.

Through her business, The Urge Promotions, Ophadile delivers coaching and wellness
initiatives aimed at fostering holistic development. This work has led to her nomination for
the Founder of the Year Africa Awards 2024 in the Social Founder of the Year and
Healthpreneur of the Year categories, She Awards Global 2024 under Healthpreneur of the
Year, and has won Best Poet through Poetry From Within booklet under OPHIR Awards for
Writers 2025 that is organised by Poetry Planet Publishing House in the Philippines. She has
introduced Rap/Hip Hop to her craft, and is now working on projects to launch as a music
artist.

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