19 Aug 2024

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Maclean Letshwiti, has underscored the importance of football in communities, saying it played a pivotal role in community development. 

Speaking during the donation of football kits to 12 Ghanzi region teams recently, Letshwiti implored communities to take football as a champion of positive transformation. 

“Football is beyond fun, it helps in personal development, as well as giving hope to the hopeless,” he stressed. 

He said local clubs and teams were nurturing environments where young players not only honed their skills but also get the chance to tap onto vital life lessons such as discipline, teamwork and leadership. 

He, therefore, urged communities to take football seriously, as it was a beacon of hope for many talented athletes. 

On other issues, he decried the low participation of local players in the national team and even international clubs. However, he emphasised that they have intensified training of local coaches, referees, and the construction of grassroots development centres. 

Furthermore, he called for collaborative efforts from other stakeholders towards making football development in the Ghanzi region a success. 

For his part, the BFA vice president, Maokaneng Bontshetse said they have handed over 2 500 balls across the country since the start of the donation drive last year.

Bontshetse implored regions and teams to ensure compliance with the Registrar of Societies for smooth facilitation of football administration with the BFA.

 He said the compliance would provide them with the opportunity to secure additional sponsorships beyond the BFA grants. 

He said four stadia would be constructed in Kasane, Maun, Kang and Mahalapye in an endeavour to strengthen and capacitate clubs. 

Earlier in her welcome remarks, Kgosi Annah Rankho implored communities to ensure full participation in sporting activities. He also appealed to players to demonstrate discipline as they could earn recognition in the national teams and even at international level. 

For his part, Ghanzi Terrors chairperson, Basiile Stoffel, applauded the BFA for their noble gesture as he said it would go a long way in promoting football in the region.

 He decried the lack of other necessities to facilitate the smooth administration of football in the region, among them lack of adequate funds and parental involvement in sporting activities. 

He, therefore, pleaded with communities to take proactive steps towards positive change to football and other sporting activities in their region. 

In his closing remarks, Ghanzi Deputy District Commissioner, Thatayaone Royal, said football brought many folds of positive changes in the lives of community members. 

He indicated that the country was besieged with mental health problems, and it was through active participation in sport that such cases would be reduced. Ends