20 Apr 2017

Central South Football Regional Association (CSFRA) bemoans lack of support and low attendance from the Mahalapye community in the just ended eastern block youth development tournament.

The tournament was held in Mahalapye during the Easter holidays and featured Under 13, 15 and 17 girls and boys teams from central north, central south, Selibe Phikwe and Tswapong football regions.

CSFRA secretary general, Ziba Tau lamented that they were disappointed with the low turn-up of supporters at the just ended games.

“The turn-up for the games was not as good as we anticipated, maybe it is because people were away for the Easters holidays, but all in all, the turn up of supporters was very low,” said Tau in an interview. However, Tau said the dates the tournaments were schedulled on the other hand favoured the participants as it was easier to assemble teams since they were on school vacation.

He also highlighted that they were particularly happy with the excitement and joy evidently visible on the participants’ faces when playing the game they were so passionate about.

He also said they encountered some hiccups as the local organising committee (LOC), citing lack of medical officers and first aid kits at the grounds and also lack of coordination as far as sleeping patterns for participants were concerned.

Tau also mentioned that as a LOC, they were at times haphazard in their daily duties, adding that it had a bearing on the outcome of the tournament.

As far as their targets as a region was concerned, he said they did not set any because they wanted to let the children play and enjoy the game they were passionate about with no pressure directed towards them.

He also said their girls’ teams did not do well, attributing the dismal performance to the lack of women football committee in their region, something he said they would sort out going forward.

He nevertheless stated that they were happy as a region with the number of participants that got selected in the eastern block shadow team.

Tau further said it was now up to the public and administrative personnel to drive and support the youth development project by the football association executive.

He said the association has done everything they could with limited resources to develop the players and stage the games.

He also said the fruits of the youth development were to be enjoyed by everyone, not only the executive of the association. BOPA