Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana women’s football is development needs to be nurtured to reach full potential.
Football leaders noted this during the Under 17 Girls team appreciation breakfast on Monday. The team was admired for participation in the Africa under 17 Girls world cup qualifiers even though the team was knocked out by Tanzania.
A Botswana Football Association national executive committee (BFA NEC) member who is also the women’s representative at the NEC, Lobito Ncube said there is need for more partnerships required towards supporting the development ideal for women football. Partnerships are enablers of success so says Lobito Ncube.
“The women football is gateway to reach greater achievements and
professionalism.
Recently the senior women national team qualified for the Women Africa Cup of Nations for the first time and that should not be the last.
We must make sure it appears in every AFCON tournament,” she observed. She said the constant appearance at the continental event can only happen if consented effort is done to develop and nurture talent. She observed that government need private partnerships in sport to accelerate development.
Ncube further noted that in order for the development to be achieved, leagues must be competitive across all regions with junior teams also having competitions that will give them exposure.
BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo, implored the media to supported and constructively criticize so that the football leadership can correct their shortcomings. Mfolo observed that for women football to attain development it can only be done by media through publishing their activities for the wider public to appreciate. Boitumelo Khama of Cresta Marakanelo, acknowledged the Under 17 team commitment in representing the country. She congratulated the team for representing the country in the international arena.
“I congratulate you for staging a powerful performance against Tanzania, the results might not be what we wanted but the important fact is that you had the skill, determination and courage to represent the country at an international level. As a country, we are behind you. We will always celebrate you. We are aware that every game you play you learn a lesson and improve as athletes,” Khama said.
“We believe in the spirit of celebrating women every moment. When a woman achieves, we celebrate it because it paves the way for others and shapes gender attitudes and career aspirations of what women can do.”
Khama further commended the team for playing professional football career. “This is an encouraging move that I hope will inspire and motivate even more women to venture into sports. Research shows that girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence, self-esteem and lower levels of depression.” The research further states that girls and women who play sports experience higher states of psychological well-being through sports. Great confidence, self-esteem and mental well-being are all important tools for achieving success,” Khama said.
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