09 Feb 2022

Inadequate preparations may haunt national senior women football  team ahead of Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier against Zimbabwe.

The two sides meet next week Friday in Zimbabwe with the return leg scheduled for February 23 in Francistown and the winner will qualify for Africa’s show- piece.

Botswana coach, Gaoletlhoo Nkutwisang, has shown intention to at least play an international friendly with one of the West African countries, but with only a week left, an international friendly will not happen.

Therefore, the national team  alias The Mares resorted to playing against local sides.

Nkutwisang said preparations were going on well despite the fact that they did not manage to play an international friendly.

She said they were still waiting for foreign-based players to join the camp, adding that she would use local teams to play friendlies to help the team gel.

However, Zimbabwe freelance journalist, Tatenda Gondo, said Zimbabwe was ready to face The Mares.

“Things have changed in Zimbabwe, government is now in charge of football. They are now responsible for the team’s camping needs and players allowances,” she said.

Gondo said previously, the Zimbabwe team used to camp at a lodge, but currently booked in a five star hotel and used a state of the art bus.

“You see, it is those little things that motivate the team to do better even in the field. They now know that government recognises them and that alone will be a good booster when they play Botswana,” she said.

Furthermore, Gondo said coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda had also called foreign-based players to strengthen the squad, adding that Rudo Neshamba who plays for Israeli Ligat Nashim FC Ramat, Berita Kwabwe who plys his trade in Nigeria, Turkish based Emmaculate Msipa and Danai Bhobho who plays for Simba Queens in Tanzania were part of the team.

One of our youngsters, Dinah ‘Rose; Banda, has been attending trials and she is back. It is not going to be easy for Botswana, unless you have your female coach whom I believe is very competitive and knows the game better than our coach,” she said. ENDs