09 Feb 2014

Women’s football teams in the north have been implored to take their game seriously despite lack of incentives in the league.

Speaking at the launch of the northern division women’s league at Francistown stadium on Saturday, February 8, Francistown Regional Football Association (FRAFA) chairperson, Jonas Ikgopoleng explained that the initiative to start women’s league in the north started in 2008, where they managed to register a single ladies team called Reteng Banyana of Gerald Estate.

He said efforts to register more teams failed because the first 10 teams that were formed in 2010 collapsed due to lack of commitment from the organisers and the team members.

Ikgopoleng, however, noted that despite the challenges they did not give up, hence in 2012 they managed to have teams that even participated in Independence Cup tournament for that year and currently the league runs with six teams.

He urged the players to show commitment in their ball game because nowadays potential sponsors want to be associated with brands that produce results and without results it would be difficult to secure sponsorship.

“Playing in the league should be an inspiration to you to aim high and want to be seen in the national team,” he said.

Pledging the District Commissioner’s support, the regional performance improvement coordinator Ms Kelebonye Dingwe said as a girl child making their derby in a ball game which has been mostly associated with boys, they are setting the pace for women not to look down upon themselves and make their mark in football as a sport.

Ms Dingwe further noted that the launch comes at a time when Francistown as a city was launching their Vision 2022 aimed at making the city a vibrate place for opportunities.

She said because sport can offer different opportunities that add to the economy, the girls should work hard and take advantage of opportunities that would come around.

The league resumed with six teams and the region has sourced trophies and medals together with P1000 prize money from Wheels Garage to be given to winners at the end of the season. ENDS