Botswana turns to dialogue to help women's clubs grow
Developing women's football also depends on better-structured clubs. In Botswana, the football federation (BFA) has held talks with the African Clubs Association (ACA) on the difficulties teams face, notably in funding, sponsorship and infrastructure. The move comes a few months after the launch of the country's first women's top division.
Rieltony LOUBOKO · Author profile ·
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The ACA's visit to Botswana gave it the chance to gather the expectations of clubs and women's football officials. Launched this year, the national women's league has 20 teams split into two groups of ten, in the north and south regions of the country. It is a step forward for the sport, but one that still comes with significant challenges.
A lack of financial resources and private partners, along with a shortage of suitable infrastructure, are among the main difficulties raised. For Jessica Motaung, ACA vice-president, this consultation is essential to better understand realities on the ground and to identify solutions with the stakeholders involved.
The ACA also wants to support women's clubs
Beyond men's football, the African Clubs Association intends to bring women's teams fully into its work. The body wants in particular to strengthen clubs' capacities, encourage collaboration and defend their interests before the governing bodies of African football.
Tsholofelo Setlhoko, women's football manager at the BFA, sees this approach as an opportunity to support Botswana's teams. She stresses the importance of partnerships with a range of stakeholders to give clubs the means to develop.
Towards a regional women's competition
The Botswana federation is also considering creating a regional women's club tournament, modelled on competitions held in the COSAFA zone. Such an initiative could give teams greater visibility and multiply the opportunities for players to test themselves against one another.
This prospect fits into a broader desire to consolidate women's football in Botswana and give it a regional dimension. The task now is to turn the discussions and ideas floated into concrete action, notably to meet the clubs' financial and material needs.