Since establishment in 1998, women football in Botswana has enjoyed a steady but exponential growth. From a mere six teams in Gaborone, it has now spread across the country.
This previous weekend a youth tournament for 13 regions was held which consisted of Gaborone, Kgatleng, South East Regional Football Association (SERFTA), Nhabe, Chobe, FRAFA and Boteti in Manu, Phikwe, Tswapong, Central North and Central South in Mahalapye. All these developments are showing signs of growth in women football.
Not only is women football gaining popularity, the number of teams in the leagues have also experienced an increase from 47 to 137 within two seasons. Additionally, the leagues have also seen an increase from six to eleven.
Twenty-five years from inception and despite recent major milestones, women football is yet to fully take roots in some areas of Botswana. One such is the Western Block, the area that covers the greater Kgalagadi area and is composed of Tsabong, Kang, Hukuntsi and Ghanzi.
Throughout many women football tournaments, it is nowhere to be found. This same was alluded to by the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mfolo Mfolo recently when addressing the media regarding the DTC Women Football tournament final.
Mfolo lamented the lack of participation in women football by the Western Block. He went on to express hope that the Block will participate in the next tournament of the DTC.
“We are aware that the Western Block is not represented in the finals of the DTC Women’s football Championships. It is our wish to see it represented the following year and we are working to see that happen,” Mfolo said.
The problem, according to football lovers, is that the block does not have football teams. The only region that has had the privilege of having teams was Tsabong about nine (9) teams in total however they all died a natural death.
Despite its lack of visibility, indications are there that the block is brimming with talent. One of the talents to come out of that region is current senior women national team midfielder Segakolodi Didukanyane.
Information that reached this publication is that most of these regions believe that BFA should fund them to run these teams and also take responsibility of their maintenance however that is not the case. No one is keen to run a women’s team and everyone seems to believe BFA should shoulder this responsibility.
“It is really misguided how some people think. BFA cannot make anyone establish a team if they do not want to. The most painful thing is that the Block is really blessed with talented players,” one football administrator opines.
Commenting on condition of anonymity, the administrator says back when women football was in its formative years, many girls showed interest in it. Lack of intent by administrators to invest however left them disgruntled and many of them ‘right now they live for alcohol while others are just mothers with nothing to do.’
“I also believe BFA is spoiling this Region to much. In 2018, they were handed football kits to start establishing teams. The same was done in 2016. Of recent, I saw the women football committee there trying to establish 5 aside games. They just want to be spoon fed and not do anything themselves. So, I do not blame anyone but the Block overseers for not participating in major women football tournaments,” the administrator says.
In trying to understand where the problem lies, this publication attempted to reach out to several football administrators in the Western Block. Unfortunately, they could not respond. Further attempts to get more information from Mfolo, BFA Technical Director Tshepho Mphukuthi and the BFA women’s Committee Chairperson, Keeng Mosinyi also proved futile.
