12 Mar 2019

Nhabe Regional Football Association has hailed Botswana Football Association (BFA) efforts to unearth and nurture talent in districts.

BFA recently embarked on an exercise to traverse the country in an effort to scout for players who would join the national junior teams. 

The association was over the weekend in Maun scouting for players born in 2001 and 2004 for both Under 17 and Under 20 national teams.

Secretary for Nhabe region, Moreotsile Juta revealed in an interview that for a long time BFA selection had been centred around Gaborone but appreciated the fact  that now the association had extended the exercise to other regions.

He hailed the association for the good move noting that it would take football to greater heights as there was a lot of unearthed talent in the regions.

However, he said the selection process was attended by players based in Maun as it was announced on a short notice adding that potential players, who were Shakawe and Gumare were left out.  

Juta also pointed out that budget constraints frustrated their efforts to prepare for players as they had to play for a short time and be released to go home to have their meals.

He said players did not have enough time to showcase their capabilities adding that BFA could have communicated well in advance to prepare for the exercise in order to produce expected results.

He said they could had been given a month notice so that they could bring in quality players from other areas, which would have given BFA the cream of the district to select from.

Under 20 head coach, Rapelang Tsatsilebe appreciated that they managed to identify players even though some were denied the opportunity because of distance.

However, Tsatsilebe said he had identified 11 players, which was a good number. 

He hoped to increase the number as they were still had to visit areas such as Kasane, Tsabong and Mahalapye. 

After the scouting exercise,  he said selected players would meet in Gaborone for the final selection.

“For now, we are concentrating on building a team that will play COSAFA Cup, which will take place in December,” he said.

Tsatsilebe said they had a small budget, which allowed them to only select in Maun but assured them that next time they would extend to other areas in the region.

Some of the challenges, he mentioned during the exercise included players playing barefooted and lack of technique but expressed optimism that most of the players had the potential.

Under 17 head coach, Tebogo Mokute emphasised the need to give youngsters across the country a chance to play for national junior teams.

He was impressed by the turn out of players but stated that he had selected three players for the Under 17 team.  ENDS