14 Aug 2022

Botswana Senior national football team coach Gaolethoo ‘Ronaldo’ Nkutlwisang has been hailed as a good team player whose efforts continue to receive recognition even outside the football circles.

Nkutlwisang, who is a technician at the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, was on Friday treated to an appreciation lunch by her employer in recognition of her efforts, both in the professional and football circle.

As a token of appreciation, the ministry gave the coach P20 000.

Through her hard work, patience and resilience, the coach, together with her technical team, made history by taking the Mares to (WAFCON), where they proved to be among the best during the games held in Morocco last month.

Speaking at the event in Gaborone, Minister Eric Molale said he was impressed by Nkutlwisang’s achievements in the football arena.

He said even in her profession, she was a devoted employee, whose excellent work ethic should be emulated by others.

“I am proud and honoured to be associated with a person of such calibre, a woman who did not only lead the Mares to WAFCON, but a woman who works in the male-dominated field of refrigeration and air conditioning as chief technical assistant,” he said.

Furthermore, Molale thanked all the ministry staff who found it important to support the coach in her endeavour to fly the country’s flag high.

He also recognised the entire Mares team for showing resilience and determination under the leadership of Nkutlwisang.

The team, he said, created euphoria and a feel-good factor for the whole nation, which uplifted the spirits of many.

Minister Molale appreciated government’s commitment to promoting gender equality by affording equal rights and opportunities to all to fully participate in the socio-economic, political and cultural development agenda of the nation.

For her part, Nkutlwisang thanked her ministry for the support they showed throughout her coaching career, adding that she had achieved a lot because of the support she got from work and from Batswana in general.

“I can assure you, I will continue to work very hard, be humble in everything I do to execute my national duties,” she said. ENDS