01 Nov 2020

Botswana Senior Women National Team is ready to compete in COSAFA Women Championship Port Elizabeth 2020 in South Africa from November 3.  

This was said by national team coach, Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang during a media briefing in Gaborone on October 30. 

She said the team started camping on October 13 and they used the whole week testing for both COVID-19 and physical readiness of players.

Nkutlwisang noted that due to COVID-19 pandemic, players had not been training and that was a major drawback to players in terms of their fitness level.

She highlighted that she was convinced that despite the team having just met, she believed that it was ready to face other teams and deliver good results.

Nkutlwisang said in the past two weeks of training, the team had shown preparedness and readiness to deliver despite slow recovery pace. “Currently, the team is in good shape to play as its fitness readiness stands at 65 per cent following massive training and ball control,” she said.

Botswana is placed in Group C and will lock horns with Zimbabwe and Tanzania to qualify for the next stage of the COSAFA Cup Championship. Coach said the group was fair as it had teams that Botswana had played against in the past years. She noted that she would be taking game by game in trying to build team strength to compete and she would appreciate the incoming results.

Nkutlwisang noted that the selection of players was based on local players, adding that  selecting international based players would had slowed their preparation level due to COVID-19 protocols.

She said they only had two weeks for preparation and according to COVID-19 regulations, two weeks quarantine was compulsory.

Coach Nkutlwisang advised that Batswana should encourage and support the selected team and was hopeful that the team would raise Botswana flag high.Botswana Football Association spokesperson, Tumo Mpatane said the team would depart for COSAFA Games in Port Elizabeth, South Africa today. The tournament will start on Tuesday until November 14. 

Mpatane said Botswana would take on Tanzania on November 7 and Zimbabwe on November 9.

He said they would share the links and other online viewing for Batswana to watch and acknowledge their team’s performance.

Goalkeepers - Sedilame Bosija and Dorris Motshwegwe.

 Defenders - Masego Montsho, Golebaone Selebatso, Lone Gaofetoge, Masego Joshua, Anna Sechane, Thapelo Moshe, Bonang Otlhagile, Game Motlogelwa, Thando Mokgabo, Theo George, Kesegofetse Mochawe, Gorata Morekolodi and Veronica Mogotsi. 

Others are Lesego Radiakanyo, Segakolodi Didukanyane, Lesego Senwelo, Bonno Mokopanele, Ontlametse Gaonyadiwe, Nondi Mahlasela, Masego Nfandiso and Michelle Abueng who are middle fielders.

Strikers - Bame Ngenda, Taboka Mathanga, Atlang Busuang, Esalenna Galekhutle and Refilwe Tholakele. COSAFA Women Championship consists of Group A, which includes South Africa, eSwatini, Comoros and Angola and Group B countries are Zambia, Malawi and Lesotho.

Group C countries are Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. ends