05 Feb 2014

Botswana Football Association's (BFA) Phillimon Makhwengwe has identified lack of financial resources as the biggest impediment to the growth and development of football.

Speaking at the official opening of a five-day preliminary coaching course in Orapa on February 3, Makhwengwe said development projects could not take off in some areas because of shortage of facilities, which hampered growth as it was important to identify and develop players at a tender age.

He added that a lot of football administrators in the country were engaged elsewhere and did not dedicate all their time and energy to football. “We must grow football into a profitable enterprise that people can engage in on a full time basis instead of as a part time activity. The development of football and sport in general will be compromised if it is not done by people who are fully committed,” he said.

He added that football had potential to create employment if it was treated as a profitable career and not a part time leisure activity. The five-day coaching clinic, which was targeted for all coaches of BFA affiliated teams in Boteti, was sponsored by Debswana Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines to the tune of P29 000.

While he appreciated the benefits accrued from conducting the coaching clinics, Makhwengwe warned that such gains would be reversed if nothing was done to avail resources and facilitate development of young talent.

“I am very worried by the decline in the level of football standards in the Boteti area. This area used to produce quality players for the national team and other top clubs in the country. But that is not the case anymore. The level of football in the region has dropped dramatically,” he said.

Makhwengwe further advised football teams in the area to work closely with teachers and use schools as hunting ground for young talent.

He said teachers must also be trained as coaches as they play a key role in developing players at a young age. He further thanked Debswana for their continued support towards the development of football, saying the five-day course will help coaches to develop and sharpen the skills.

For his part, business sales manager at Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines, Bryan Makhwaje said Debswana had a vision of turning Orapa into a great place to work and live in.

“The merging of all teams in Orapa to form Orapa United FC was part of that dream. We are preparing for a future after diamonds,” he said.

Phillimon Bunu, BFA’s chairman for Boteti region, said the training of coaches will benefit a lot of teams in the region as most of them are not doing well. He said only Orapa United FC plays in the premier league while the rest of the teams are competing at regional level.

“Even the schools in the region are not doing well. We therefore thank Debswana for this coaching clinic because it will help to improve the level of football in our region,” said Bunu. ENDS