03 Nov 2021

Senior national women football team, The Mares, is on the verge of making history by qualifying for the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations billed for Morocco.

For The Mares to qualify, they would have to beat Zimbabwe in a two legged encounter early next year.

Consequently,  Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare, has urged stakeholders to channel their support and resources towards the team.

He made the appeal during the Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) and Botswana Football Association partnership launch on Tuesday.

He said women football had shown great potential, adding that a few weeks ago The Mares advanced to the final round of the Africa Women Cup of Nations after beating Angola 7-1 on aggregate.

Rakgare said they were now left with one more stage to reach the final stage.

“So, Mr president Letshwiti, I think we should go all out to support these women, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego we need to go all out. We have realised that our team that went to Tokyo missed a lot in preparing for Olympics competitions, “he said.

He urged stakeholders to start a conversation on how to assist The Mares.

Rakgare said last year, The Mares made history by reaching the COSAFA senior women’s championship final for the first time.

“These examples are many to substantiate that we are on the right trajectory with woman’s football. We need to invest more for we can take on the best in Africa and indeed the world,” he said. ENDS