21 Jul 2024

Francistown Regional Football Association (FRAFA) has paid tribute to the departed football legends during the just ended season.

They are Patrick Gaborekwe, who was the director of Semotswane Football Club, Tshepang Moroka, FRAFA league committee member, Gabalape Tshwang, Semotswane FC player as well as Eagle FC former players, Kabelo Mantswe and Mphoetsile Khumanego.

Welcoming delegates at the FRAFA general assembly in Francistown Saturday, vice chairperson, Dabilani Sechele said the departed legends had left an indelible mark on the hearts of many fans and players alike.

He said their demise should be a celebration of their lives and lasting impact on FRAFA’s football heritage.

Sechele also congratulated clubs that performed well in different leagues and divisions this year.

The clubs include, Tonota Football Club, which won the division one league and Nata Peace Lovers Football Club as well Heartbreakers Football Club, which performed well in Division two.

He also congratulated Tutume Soccer Angela for winning Women’s football league.

Sechele also congratulated Chadibe Football Club from the region for their promotion to the elite league.  

“We wish them sucess in the premier league,” he said and praised Tafic FC for maintaining their premier league status, adding that he wished to see more teams from the region joining Chadibe and Tafic in the elite league.

He said FRAFA was hopeful that Eleven Angels would bounce back to their glory days after being relegated from the elite league to first division, noting that Tonota FC also went to the promotional play offs but did not make it as Real Brothers FC from Boteti emerged victorious and was promoted to Debswana First Division North league.

“Our own Tutume Soccer Angels took part in the Debswana Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) women’s league play offs games and did not make it and again Boteti, through Tawana girls, won the play offs,” said Sechele.

He said this was a good year for Boteti teams and they must be congratulated for a job well done.

Francistown, he said hosted the national team, the Zebras, CAF and some Orange FA cup games as well as Orange FA cup final.

“We are happy to have been part of such events as we learn from them and put what we learn into practice in our region,” he added.

Sechele also informed the delegates that under 15 and 17 boys teams would be going to Kasane in August to compete with their Northern block counterparts.

He said best players would then be selected from the teams to represent the Northern block against other blocks in Gaborone.

FRAFA has received a request to select Under 23 players from the region to take part in the Northern block games to be held in Lethakane in August, Sechele stated, saying the tournament would be sponsored by Lucara Mine.

However, he said challenges and failures did not spare the region as they failed on some areas though there was room for improvement.

“Remember that we promised you the Top 8 cup during last year’s Annual General Meeting but we failed due to some reasons,” said Sechele.

He said unlike the previous year, the region also failed to get sponsorship for the league because most companies said were recovering from COVID-19 losses.

Sechele indicated that FRAFA failed to form a disciplinary committee as outlined by the Botswana Football Association because the disciplinary committee chairperson should be a lawyer by profession and that most lawyers they approached did not want to be associated with football politics.

Meanwhile, the FRAFA secretary general, Meshack Medupi said Donga Initiates FC and Monarch Fast Eleven FC, failed to complete their tournament in the past season due to various reasons beyond their control.

He appealed to the region to unite and avoid such situations. ENDS