20 Oct 2020

Botswana has started to take women football seriously; thanks to world football governing body for putting pressure on its 211 member associations.

FIFA secretary general, Fatma Samoura, was recently quoted saying, ‘FIFA’s commitment to supporting our member associations in developing women’s football remains one of our top priorities.’ 

In addition to funding available via the COVID-19 Women’s Football Grant and FIFA Forward Programme, the women football development programme would provide support to member associations so that they could invest in the game at all levels.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) general assembly recently ushered in a novice, Lobito Ncube, who woukd be expected to advocate for women’s football in the national executive committee.

However, Ncube said she was aware of challenges facing women’s football, adding that her focus would be to make sure that women participated in large numbers.

She said there was need for a fresh start to ensure women’s football succeeded.

“One thing that we need to do, which I am very passionate about is that we need to incentivise volunteers. People need to volunteer knowing that there is something in return,” she said.

Ncube said she was aware that women’s football teams and leagues were struggling to find sponsors, adding that her desire was to increase strategic group sponsorship and partnerships focusing on all the 17 regions.

In her campaign manifesto, Ncube Lobito, who was an independent candidate, said football was being used as a pathway for emerging markets for growth.

She said the industry had seen the need to benchmark against best businesses globally to make it a more valuable partner.

She emphasised the need for the country to produce effective, quality leadership and encourage mass participation of youth so that they could have an attractive picture for the continent.

Ncube highlighted that her objectives included amongst others; creating a conducive and optimal conditions professional women football to access facilities that would enable supporters to attend games, sponsors to drive revenue and broadcasters to reach wide audience.

She said it was also important to position women matches as friendly and sociable with good player accessibility to shape attitudes towards female capabilities and involvement in sports

“The other important thing is to uphold, drive and maintain the BFA objectives to grow women participation and build strong foundation in the 17 regions by 2023,” she said. ends