25 Jun 2024

Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB)’s contribution to the development of women football in the country has not gone unnoticed.

Speaking at the DTCB women’s football championship press conference in Gaborone on Monday, Botswana Football Association (BFA) chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo said in 2021, there were only five regions playing women football, 54 teams and 950 players registered in the FIFA-Connect.

The number increased in 2022 to 66 teams and seven regions with 1 300 players registered in the FIFA-Connect, Mofolo said.

In 2023, he noted, there were nine regions playing women’s football, 90 teams and 2 080 players.

“As we stand now in 2024, we have 14 regions and we are happy that the western has block two regions that have come to the party. 

That is an encouragement for us as block is seen as a marginalised block,” he said.

DTCB senior manager-security services, Gaborutwe Radithupa said it was intentional for the company to have worked with BFA for the development of women’s football.

He said it was contained in the company’s Environmental Social and Governance and strategy, adding that in the modern world, companies were not only viewed in terms of their success but also how they helped the community to prosper.

Radithupa said this year’s champions would once again bag P250 000, position two P150 000, while position three would walk away with P10 000.

BFA head of marketing, Masego Busumane said over the past decade, female participation in football in Botswana increased by 30 per cent with more than 142 women’s football teams across the country.

She said the growth was a testament to the hard work and dedication of players, coaches, and everyone involved.

She said notable players like Masego Montsho, who rose to fame at BDF XI and Security Systems Ladies FC, now playing in China, and Sedilame Bosija, who represented Botswana in the CAF Club competitions twice with Double Action, inspired young athletes across the nation.

Busumane said the DTCB Women’s Football Championship had been pivotal in the development of women football and the emergence of teams throughout Botswana. 

Despite the progress, she said, female players still faced challenges which included limited resources, infrastructure, and opportunities compared to their male counterparts.

She said BFA had been instrumental in driving development, but more work was needed to ensure equal access and support for female players. ENDS