02 Oct 2015

Basadi Akoonyatse is the new Botswana Football Association (BFA) vice president administration.

She is the first woman to assume such a high office in the BFA structures.

The post fell vacant after Tariq Babitseng was relieved off his duties. Another woman, Suzie Montsho, occupied the position on acting basis since Babitseng was shown the door.

Akoonyatse’s duties would include, among other things, supervising the general administration of the association, sponsorship as well as international relations and networking. She will also oversee administration in the regional associations.

The International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport has praised BFA for trusting Akoonyatse with a position of high responsibility.

IWG secretary general, Game Mothibi, said Akoonyatse’s appointment was a great milestone for Botswana sport. She said   Akoonyatse had proved her capabilities in many areas.

“As IWG, we see her appointment as strategic for us with the hope that she would champion gender issues within Botswana football,” Mothibi said. She said they also hoped Akoonyatse would help address women and sport issues.

According to a BFA press release, Akoonyatse first joined the BFA NEC in 2012 as an additional member. Prior to that, she served for many years as chairperson of BFA medical committee.

She was also head of the medical desk at the Botswana Africa Youth Games Organisation Committee (BAYGOC) secretariat.

She also served a term as chairperson of Women in Sport Botswana (WASBO), as well as serving in other fora at the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC).

A sport physiotherapist by profession, Akoonyatse also served in CAF Medical Committee and is a member of the National Advisory Anti-Doping Committee. She also is also a CAF Match Commissioner. ends