16 Oct 2023

The Football Union of Botswana (FUB) says the turn-up at its coaching clinic, which was held over the weekend at Lady Olebile Masire Youth Centre, was indicative of the thirst and passion for football among the youth.

FUB vice president and also the project coordinator, Lesego Molemogi told BOPA that the turnout also indicated that Botswana as a whole was in need of such initiatives.

“We had planned to host about 100 kids in the Uunder-13-year-old category, both males and females, but we ended up with an extra 60 kids who just rocked up whom we gladly incorporated into our event. 

The event was our first one, and even though we will still have to sit and review it, from the turn-up we are certain that we will need to conduct more of such coaching clinics around the country,” he said.

Molemogi said in their initial event, they had targeted the Township Rollers youth development team and Top Stars Football Academy.

“After a review of this event, we will then be in a good position to say when and where we will take our next event, but the plan is to have a series of such clinics across the country,” he said.

Molemogi stated that FUB desired to hold coaching clinics even in rural area, but this was limited by lack of funds. 

“We urge more business partners to come forth and support us to unearth talent because we believe that we have many rough diamonds across the country,” he said.

He also appreciated the presence of the national team, Zebras. “National team players are idols to these kids. They watch them every weekend on television and you can just imagine the excitement to have the likes of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe mingling with them in flesh,” he pointed out.

He said the other good part about the coaching clinics was their use of former Zebras players whose football journey was relatable to the youngsters as they also started on dusty grounds.

Underscoring the importance of the coaching clinics for future sports persons, Molemogi explained that attendants were not only taught the basics of the sport, but general discipline as well to help shape their character.  

“Poor discipline has and will continue to be part and parcel of sport in general hence incorporation of the issues in our grassroots coaching clinics,” he said.

Molemogi indicated that they were in discussion with their corporate partner, Engen Botswana on such issues and we had concluded that it was better to nip the problem at the bud, to continue the relationship. ENDs