The upcoming Women’s National League is expected to boost competition and encourage more girls across the country to actively take part in football. This was said by Botswana Football Association (BFA) Women’s Football Committee Chairperson, Keeng Mosinyi, in an interview with Sunday Standard Sport.
Mosinyi says the introduction of the national league marks a major step in the growth of women’s football in the country. This will be an improvement from the previous setup in which teams played in regional leagues without much incentive.
“In the previous setup, teams were just playing to honour matches because there were no promotions or relegation,” she says. “Now, with the introduction of a national league, teams know what is at stake. This will motivate both players and clubs to take the league seriously.”
Under the new format, the top teams from the North and South zones will face each other at the end of the season to decide which team represents Botswana in the CAF Women’s Champions League. This is expected to improve the standard of local football and give players exposure to higher levels of competition.
One of the biggest changes, according to the BFA Women’s Football Committee Chairperson, is that teams will now travel to play against opponents from other regions, unlike before when matches were played only within the same area.
“Teams will now travel across regions, meeting different opponents and styles of play. This will increase competition and help raise the level of the game,” she says. “It will also push regions to work harder to develop women’s football.”
Mosinyi is hopeful that the new league format will also create opportunities for players in other regions to be noticed and to be considered for the national team. “The national league will expose more players to competitive football and help identify new talent. It will give the Mares a wider pool of players to choose from and may even open doors for some players to move to professional leagues in the region.”
She says FIFA has approved funding to support women’s football development, and part of it will be used to help clubs manage their operations. The national league teams will receive equipment such as playing kits, balls, cones, nets and other training materials.
“The FIFA funds will also be used to pay match officials. This is important because it helps professionalise the league and ensures that matches are managed well.”
Meanwhile, the BFA women’s football committee chairperson has implored the private sector and football fans to support women clubs. She says many teams are still struggling financially.
“Teams are financially struggling, and there is a need for the private sector to come on board to sponsor the teams or the league. We also encourage supporters to attend matches in large numbers. Their support means a lot to the players.”
Mosinyi says the women’s National League is a big opportunity to transform women’s football in Botswana. She says it will not only improve competition but also give hope to many young girls who want to pursue football as a career.
“With this league, we are building a strong foundation for the future of women’s football. It is a chance for our players to grow, compete and make their mark at national and international level.”
The women national league is expected to kick off in December.
