22 Jun 2023

Botswana is bidding for the AFCON 2027 because it believes in the power of football to transform the lives of Batswana.

The country is also bidding to catalyse economic development and instill a great sense of pride in the citizens, said the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare at the FIFPRO-Africa Congress yesterday.

Furthermore, he said the country had a track record of successfully delivering international sport events, and is optimistic that given a chance to host, the country would deliver a memorable AFCON in 2027.

“Actually we want to put together the best AFCON Africa has ever witnessed; we will do so through our tagline; Achieving Prosperity - One Goal At a Time,” he said.

“We have no doubt that Botswana deposited the best bid proposals with CAF, as we always say we are in it to win it,” he said.

Should Botswana win the bid, he said Africa would get to experience the best warmth of Batswana, the great hospitality, the flora and fauna that compared to none, the best taste of Setswana beef, seswaa, unique and distinct cultural heritage as well as the good entertainment.

For his part, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Patrice Motsepe said football was an exciting and unique sport that united nations.

“The players give us pride and joy when we get to the football pitch; they give us the opportunity to forget about our domestic problems,” he said.

He said it was therefore of paramount importance for all federations to make commitment to protect the players.

Motsepe said there were 14 nations in Africa that were part of FIFPRO (the global player council) and CAF had 54 nations.

He, therefore, said he would encourage other African countries to set up FIFPRO structures for their own benefit.

“To have mutual partnership; if FIFPRO grows it means the African football is growing as well, so we must work hand in hand for that success,” he said.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) president MacLean Letshwiti said in the past, they created a National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) to address labour-related disputes.

Furthermore, he said they recently completed the amendments to the NDRC regulations to improve their delivery of justice for the players.

Through the establishment of a more functional chamber, he said, the local game would become truly professional.

“The BFA took it even further and worked with the football stakeholders to create a standard contract, which is a step closer to making sure that we protect professional players. 

I am also happy to note that my association has made it mandatory for all players in the top league,” he said.

Furthermore, Letshwiti said BFA had always strived to modernise the management of football by developing a consultative process with other football participants

“In collaboration with the Botswana Football League (BFL), which was recently granted autonomy, we want to ensure that the welfare of players is protected,” he said.

Letshwiti empahasised the need to look after players by all means. 

“There is no worse heart-wrenching sight than the one of a former superstar who can no longer afford a cup of coffee, a medical check-up, or who has fallen on hard times without shelter or any meaningful investment. 

That is a bad sight and does not project our football product or the entire industry in good stead,” he said. Ends