04 Feb 2025

Women’s football in Botswana has made significant strides, which is indicated by the growing number of players who have moved to bigger leagues.

Currently there are a number of women football players from Botswana plying their trade around the world.

Two of them ply their trade in the Eastern Europe, with Keitumetse “Ben 10” Dithebe playing for one of the reputable clubs Ankara Fomget Football Club in Turkey.

In the 2022-23 season Ankara were crowned the super league champions, while in the 2024-24 season they were super league runners up.

Lone Gaofetoge also plays in Turkey for Amedspor Kadin from Hakkarigucu Spor Kulubu which is also in the super league.

Two other players from Botswana currently play for South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns ladies team.

They are prolific forward Refilwe Tholakele and goalkeeper Sedilame Boseja. Another foreign based player is Thando Mokgabo who plays for Zambian side club Yasa FC.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) national team’s manager Monnakgotla Mojaki points that the association is happy to have some players playing in professional league in Europe and Africa.

“It shows growth in the women’s football, and we hope the five will motivate others to work very hard so that they can also catch the eyes of the football scouts,” Mojaki said.

He said the fact that the five played in better leagues and against tough opponents would improve their mental and physical strength. Furthermore, he said it would also bolster the Mares given that they had players who were exposed to tough opponents.

“Also, I think it would also improve the player’s lives, remember football is a short career, therefore playing in professional leagues means they are automatically earning a living,” he said.

Sunday Standard sport editor, Botlhale Koothopile, said movement of players abroad was a good development for women football, both at personal (players) and national interests.

At personal level, he said, women players could now aspire to earn a living through their skill in professional ranks abroad.

“Now, our women footballers can also dream of pursuing football as a career. They now know without doubt it is possible for a young Motswana woman to achieve this,” he said.

Koothopile said that alone was good motivation for them to believe and strive to do better because they could see the likes of Dithebe, Boseja, Gaofetoge and others living their football dream outside the borders of Botswana.

“For the players who have moved abroad, this will also be a good motivation for them to seek further growth and better opportunities,” he said. 

“My prayer is that as they move abroad, they must understand they are not just carrying their dreams, but they are also carrying the dreams of their fellow Batswana women footballers with them.”

If they excel, he said, it would open doors for other Batswana women footballers, adding that foreign clubs would look into Botswana league to buy talent.

“So, whatever they do, if it is good, will definitely help in improving the fortunes of our women football players,” he added.

 “This also touches on national level. The experiences these players gather while abroad will be of great benefit to our national team’s setup.”

Furthermore, he said, having many players abroad would also improve the national team, adding that looking at the latest movement of Botswana’s players to Turkey, one got a good feeling that something great could be achieved.

Koothopile said: “Champions in the Turkish women league qualify for UEFA champion’s league. If the team(s) our players play for win, it means they will have an opportunity to rub shoulders with the best players from England, Spain, and France etc in the UEFA competitions. That on its own is a great opportunity for them to grow and also sell their fellow Batswana women.” 

Overall, he said, the movement of players abroad was all that Batswana had been dreaming and hoping for.

“I believe it will really improve our football. It will help our women footballers to dream and grow while on the other hand help our national teams to be better,” he said. ENDS