19 Aug 2020

Women candidates vying for positions in the Botswana Football Association (BFA) National Executive Committee have assured the nation that they have what it takes to propel football to greater heights.

This came to light during a discussion organised by Fan’Mo Sports Agency in collaboration with Women and Sport Botswana on August 17.

The event held under the theme; An Intentional Conversation; Women Football Towards and Beyond the Elections gave candidates the opportunity to present their leadership qualities, experience and long term plans for the growth of football if voted into office.

One of the female additional member candidates, Itsholeng Disang noted that time was now for women to leave their differences and focus on developing football.

Disang said her team was made up of people with experiences from different fields, which would come in handy in terms of developing and implementing their plans.

She said they had already devised plans on how to effectively grow football.

Pertaining to issues of having low numbers of women in sport, she noted that it was attributed to how the girl child was raised.

“The girl child should be encouraged to play sport from a young age, which would in the long term benefit sport upon their retirement, some would be coaches, administrators,” she said.

Joy Setshedi, also contesting for female additional member position, said her organisation, Joy foundation had afforded her an opportunity to play a critical role in women sport development.

She indicated that women were not taken seriously in sport.           

Setshedi was of the view that every football committee should have a women representative, which in the long run would benefit women football.

She said her team would develop strategies to attract girl child to football.

She further said she wants to learn more adding she would be in a good position to stand for BFA presidency position in 2024.

Another female additional member contestant, Tsoseletso Magang said she would use her experience gained over the years in sport to drive strategies developed by her team.

 “I believe that I am in a strong team that is capable to lead football to greater heights,” she said

Magang shared that the challenge they often encountered as women were that 90 per cent of the voters were men.

She said this was attributed to the fact that for someone to take part in elections, he/she should be part of any football structure of which there were very few women in such structures.

Lobito Ncube, who will be competing for female additional member position, said her desire to stand for elections was fuelled by the need to see football having leaders of note.

“I am here to make sure that women and girl child are taken seriously in football,” she said.

She said her team was determined to lay a solid foundation for football and that they would engage with regions to appreciate their challenges and devise strategies to assist them.

Ncube said women tend to pull each other down, adding that when she declared her desire to stand for elections, questions were asked by women about her personal life instead of her capabilities.

Kesego Okie, who is contesting for ordinary member position, indicated that she was in a position to assist BFA leadership to attract sponsors and supporters, adding that she was better suited for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of plans.

She indicated that her team wanted to bring back football integrity, which had been lost over the years as well as to return local football to better ranking.

Okie said her team would use resources wisely to the extent of having enough to groom girl child in football. 

She pointed out that more women were needed in football and also called for their support.

However, she said women should be supported based on their capabilities, not only because they are women.

Another ordinary member contestant, Theresa Hirchfeld said indicated that her team would be working closely with regions, noting that they had already opened offices and bought laptops for them.

She also shared the sentiment that a girl child should play football from a tender age.

She also urged the presidential-elect who would win the elections to engage Ministry of Basic Education to devise plans for young girls to play from a young age.

Hirchfeld said women did not support each other, which she believed crippled significant women representation within BFA.

In his address, Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Marumo Morule said the BNSC also supported the idea of women in sport leadership.

“We would be happy to see more women in leadership positions,” he said.

He also noted that candidates demonstrated bravery in standing for elections and expressed the belief that those voted into office would work hard to grow football.

Morule urged sport leaders to introspect, adding that in so doing they would be able to effectively and efficiently carry out their mandate.

He applauded WASBO and Fan’ Mo Sports Agency for their effort in supporting women in sport. The chairperson urged all leaders not to let COVID-19 pandemic derail their plans to grow and develop sport.  ENDS