As the Botswana Football awards beckon, Double Action coach William Raizor Monessen, despite his sterling job, failed to make it into the nominees.
Despite the wins he accumulated with his club and aiding the club to defend both the Women’s Division One league and Top 8 tournament, awards adjudicators did not recognise him.
Though the awards are to reward excellence, Double Action women’s football coach who guided his team to win double, league and National DTCB Top 8 tournament failed the nomination stage.
“I wish the team which selected the nominees could have considered coaches who also deal with women football because they are also part of football. Double Action out done themselves through the 2022/ 2023 season. As for William Monessen who ensured they win their league and now they are playing exceptionally well on the CAF Women’s Championships Qualifiers even though under Phillimon Makgwengwe as head coach, he could have been considered a nominee in order to balance the equation between men and women teams,” says football analyst Mzambo Kgaogano.
For his part, Monene noted his dissatisfaction regarding the coach of the year nominees. He stated that the organizing committee does not regard women football coaches as outstanding coaches despite their good performance.
“What I have achieved with Double Action is not different from what Ramoreboli and Pontsho Moloi have achieved. I was titled coach of the tournament for the DTCB Women league division. The organizing committee could have at least made a different category for coaches who deal with women clubs to ensure balance. Women football is not that much of a big deal,” he says.
Addressing the media regarding the awards overview and categories, LOC Chairperson Alec Fela Monyake under the coach of the year category noted that, selection was made considering the coach who reached the final stage of the league, should have won the league, and should be at least in the top 8 of the respective league they participated in.
Botswana Football League (BFL) CEO, Senzo Mbatha indicated that this is the first event they are holding. With this in mind, they are taking notes to improve the awards going forward. However, he requested all football followers and lovers to bear with them if they encounter mistakes along the way.
The categories are 14 in total with 6 out of 14 being group categories. These are best region in administration and good governance, best region in youth football, best region in women’s football, best region in league management, women’s football team of the year and men’s football team of the year.
For individual categories, there is the president’s award, women’s footballer of the year, men’s footballer of the year, women’s referee of the year, men’s referee of the year, women’s assistant referee of the year, men’s assistant referee of the year and lastly coach of the year.
Coach of the year nominees are, Pontsho Moloi of Gaborone United, Morena Ramoreboli of Jwaneng Galaxy, Seemo Mpatane of Eleven Angels and Mandla Lulu Mpofu of Masitaoka. Women’s footballer of the year nominees are Sedilame Bosija, Laone Moloi, Lone Gaefetoge, Mokgabo Thanda, Lesego Radiakanyo and Keitumetse Dithebe. Men’s footballer of the year nominees are Thatayaone Ditlhowe, Tumisang Orebonye, Gape Mohutsiwa, Mothusi Cooper, Kabelo Seakanyeng and Lebogang Ditsele. Men’s referee of the year nominees are Keabetswe Dintwe, Solomon Toitoi and Thabang Ketshabile.
Women’s team of the year nominees are Double Action football club, Gaborone United, Western Dynamite and Granada FC. Men’s team of the year nominees are Matebele FC, Tafic, Gaborone United and Jwaneng Galaxy.
Best region in Administration and Good Governance nominees are Tsabong, Kweneng, South East, Chobe and Central South. Best region in youth football nominees are Nhabe, Selibe- Phikwe, Gaborone, Francistown and Central South region. Best region in women’s football nominees are Southern region, Selibe-Phikwe region, Nhabe region, Kgatleng region and Gaborone region. Best region in league development nominees are Nhabe, Francistown, South East, Hukuntsi and Gaborone.
The BFA inaugural football awards aim to recognise excellence and appreciate contributions made by Regional Football Associations (RFAs) in developing football.
The other objective is to encourage footballers and administrators to continue committing to football for it to achieve the desired results. BFA will also use the awards to generate revenue through the sale of awards tickets. Launching the awards, BFA national executive committee member who is also the chairperson of the awards, Alec Fela Monyake said the awards will be used to foster relations and partnership with the business community.
