03 Apr 2023

Blue City goalkeeper, Kenalemang Dintwa, stands between the goalposts with her bare hands behind her back like deeply absorbed in thoughts.

She does not act like a goal minder. From a distance she looks like she has been placed there temporarily while the substantive goalkeeper is preparing to take over her duties between the sticks.

No gloves for her. She plays bare knuckled. Probably it is the lack that steals her confidence and peace. Her counterpart at the opposing posts is well dressed for a goalkeeper.

Dintwa hardly utters a word unless after conceding a goal. Even under attack she remains mum and statue-like. Goalkeepers by their character utter instructions to the outfield players, in the process pacing through the 18-yard box, pumping up self-confidence and then rubbing it off their mates.

Not only does she not have gloves, she also does not have pads to protect her shin. A couple of her mates also do not have the pads. Some are playing with sneakers.

It is a generic problem that faces the women’s teams. However, it appears Blue City is dogged by more than just equipment problems, but discipline too. It is a deplorable state of women football in rural areas.

“We don’t have equipment like shin pads, soccer boots and gloves. We have a kit but it is short of other jerseys,” City coach Boikhutso Mathadisa said post-match after 0-5 drubbing at the hands of visiting Giant Aces of Mmadinare on Sunday.

Although she concedes to have enough players to compete in the Selebi Phikwe Regional Football Association women’s league, Mathadisa said her players ‘simply don’t turn up for training.’

If any, about five players would pitch up for training with the rest of the squad away without official leave. “I tried to engage with them, but they don’t tell me what their problems are,” said Mathadisa who also added that her players showed up only on weekends for game before disappearing again.

Although a few attended the game to cheer up the home side, standing behind the bench to offer technical and tactical assistance, solicited or unsolicited, the team struggled to weave a move that depicted a serious side.

Aces coach, Lesego Kalulwama shared City’s sentiments of lack of equipment and resources.

“It is a general problem for women’s teams this side and it is disheartening,” said Kalulwama who revealed that his team used only one soccer ball for training.

“We can’t improve our skills and techniques while the whole team depends on a single ball,” he added.

Although he argued that City were not a weaker side, but was overwhelmed by a thoroughly prepared team with intentions of reaching the playoffs, Kalulwama said Aces were also faced with training challenges.

Nonetheless, the Aces coach said the technical team usually prepared a makeup training for the players that missed training to various reasons.

He believes that despite the challenges bedeviling women’s teams, the league was competitive compared to last year when his team joined.  ENDS