Botswana Women’s Under 20 football team is set for the big stage in Europe where they will spend two weeks in a training camp.
While negotiations for the envisaged camp are allegedly still ongoing between the Botswana Football Association (BFA) and a South African sports consulting company, the camp is said to be influenced by talent displayed by the young team viewed to be the Mares future.
Sources close to the matter revealed to the Sunday Standard that the training camp will also be in partnership with one of Europe football giants with assistance of other logistics pertaining to the team’s stopover.
The team’s performance at the just ended AUSC Region 5 Games that were hosted by Botswana in December saw the little Mares emerging runners up against African heavyweights South Africa losing by a slender one nil deficit. The tournament ended with one talented youngster Keitumetse Dithebe walking away with the Golden boot after exceptional showing hitting the net four times.
“A lot is set to change within the national teams set up through all ranks to the senior national team. The BFA is currently working on changing the national team environment for players to wear the national jersey with pride. The consulting company is set to professionalise the BFA and assist in the development of junior teams. Currently they are in negotiations with some Europe based agents and a club to accomo0date the little Mares for a training camp,” a source revealed to the Sunday Standard.
It has also been revealed to the Sunday Standard that the FIFA delegation that visited the country in February 2019 is influencing the decision to have the youngsters heading for a training camp in Europe.
The delegation was assigned by the World football governing body to assist the BFA to formulate women’s football strategy and structure for local women’s game. On their tour, the delegation headed by FIFA women Development and Governance Manager Ariana Dwmirovic visited clubs in Gaborone and Molepolole in a fact finding mission.
In an interview with Sunday Standard, BFA mouthpiece Tumo Mpatane said he cannot confirm on the international trip at the moment.
“For now I cannot commit on the matter as details of any international trips are yet to be confirmed. It is only right to confirm now that the team will engage in several preparation camps to work on their combinations. It is a fact that the team is talented and has a bright future as they have proved in the past competition gunning down a silver medal in the AUSC regional tournament,” Mpatane told the Sunday Standard.
