15 Aug 2022

The low turnout at Saturday’s regional grassroots football festival in Francistown has been attributed to schools’ recess.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) national women football chairperson, Itsholeng Disang, said the festival was part of the association’s mandate that included coaching and capacity building, grassroots and player development, structure and administration development as well as changing perception.

“This programme falls under grassroots promotion of football from a tender age,” stated Disang.

She said the festival was meant for fun and to arouse the love for football among girls.

Disang said after reaching 12 years of age, girls could start playing for teams of their choice at professional level.

Diamond Trading Company Botswana’s corporate affairs specialist, Patrick Mokwele, said the company sponsored women football to promote a reduction in gender disproportionality.

Mokwele said the company sought to, among other things, address issues of anti-doping and encourage parents to actively participate in sports as well as take action against unbecoming behavior.

He said two grassroots festivals were conducted in Jwaneng in April and Selebi Phikwe in May.

For his part, Francistown Regional Football Association regional secretary, Daniel Nkoketsang, said though the festival went well, despite the low turnout.

Nkoketsang said they expected 80 participants from under 12, 10 and under eight years but only 67 turned up. He said the festival would be extend to villages of greater Francistown Masunga and Tutume. ENDS