08 Sep 2013

Ramotswa Football for Hope Centre has made remarkable strides in growing football in the region, despite the little attention it gets from Botswana Football Association (BFA) and the community.

The executive director of the South East District Youth Empowerment Association (SEDYEA), which houses the centre, Kitso Masi, said in an interview that there were 2 000 youths under the structures of the community football league.

Young people, who come from the surrounding villages of Otse, Ramotswa, Taung and Mogobane, are enrolled in the under 13, 17 and 25 football structures of the centre for both boys and girls, Masi said.

He added that the grassroots soccer consortium in the area had about 112 teams, and attracted a huge number of participants despite the low support from parents and the corporate world.

“Sport has always been an afterthought, something that you can do after school, but we are now seeing a change,” the executive director said, adding that the now relegated AT&T Monnakgotla Women’s League team - South East Girls – is their product.

Another potent product to have ever come out of the ambits of the not so notable football structures is none other than national team player Nthabiseng Mogatle, who now plays for one of women’s soccer giants, Double Action, he said proudly.

Furthermore, Masi said he was hopeful for a better collaboration with BFA for the benefit of the youth engaged at the centre. However, BFA technical officer, Philemon Makhengwe, said they were ready to work with the centre to develop football through giving hope to the less privileged.

For the collaboration to be effectively, Mkhwengwe said, there was need for SEDYEA to engage BFA for assistance, adding that they were willing to provide technical assistance and equipment if so required.

“Football for Hope is a life skills programme. If they need our help in terms of coaching clinics or equipment we will come to their rescue,” he said, adding that such centres were run independently and BFA could only come in if so requested.

He added that if the centre did not approach BFA, the association would assume that everything was working according to plan. The technical director thus invited SEDYEA to liaise with BFA to improve their working relations, adding that they had nothing against the programme.

Football for Hope programme, which is delivered mainly in communities where plenty of underprivileged young people are found, is the brainchild and flagship of the world’s football governing body (FIFA). It focuses on grassroots football around Africa.  In Botswana, the Ramotswa Centre, which was launched last year,is so far the only one of its kind. Ends