08 Oct 2023

Governance is one of the elementary requirements in football, hence a decision by the Botswana Football Association (BFA) to award even off the pitch excellence.

This was said by BFA president, MacLean Letshwiti at the first ever football awards in Gaborone on Saturday.

“On the pitch results are actually a culmination of good governance. Good on the pitch results are never a coincidence.

Teams that perform well on the pitch are actually those that are well managed,” Letshwiti he said.

He added that it was for such a reason that BFA encouraged all teams to comply with all FIFA regulations and charters, including good governance itself.

“Good governance include among others, holding meetings as required by club constitutions, holding regular elections and producing financial records among others,” he added.

He also indicated that BFA was working on getting women into football at all levels, from club levels to the boardroom.

“This will enable the country to be at pace with the rest of the world, which has seen a drastic improvement in women’s football. This is BFA’s contribution in helping change societal perception about women and girls.

We are already playing a big part in fighting gender-based violence,” he said. Meanwhile, the awards ceremony saw veteran Matshidiso ‘Sexton’ Kowa clinching the BFA president’s award.

The men’s footballer of the year award went to Benson Mangolo of Jwaneng Galaxy while Lesego Radiakanyo of Double Action was bestowed the women’s footballer of the year award.

The youthful Seemo Mpatane of Eleven Angles won the coach of the year while Lucky Kegakologetswe grabbed the men’s assistant referee of the year.

Dorcus Chenset won the women’s assistant referee of the year while Keabetswe Dintwa won the same award in the men’s category. Women’s referee of the year went to Seoyatseng Tshephe.

New comers, TAFIC FC won men’s team of the year while Granada FC won in the women’s category.

Best region in women’s football went to Gaborone City Regional Football Association while best region in youth football was won by Central South.

Nhabe region was awarded for best region in league management while South East was named the best region in administration and good governance. Ends