No special incentives for Mares
Mqondisi Dube - Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday July 2, 2022 06:00
The women’s team progressed to the finals for the first time after defeating Zimbabwe on away goals rule in February.
However, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo said there was nothing prepared for the team, regarding incentives. “At the moment, there is none,” was Mfolo’s brief response when asked about incentives for the Mares. The absence of incentives means the team will get what is already in the book regarding the performance of athletes at international competitions.
Minister of Youth, Sport, Gender and Culture Tumiso Rakgare confirmed during a breakfast meeting with journalists in Gaborone this week that the regular incentive package will be used for the Mares.
“We recently released a new improved package of incentives and rewards, which is at the Botswana National Sport Commission. It clearly indicates different competitions and how national teams will be rewarded,” he said. Rakgare said they made an attempt as the government to reach out to the private sector. He said Lucara diamond mining company came on board and gave each player P10,000. He said as government, they issued each player P20,000 for having qualified. He said the incentive for winning the first round is contained in the package. “If there are any changes, they will be announced.
We are excited that the team qualified. The government injected P4.1 million, which went into the preparations of the team. The bigger picture was for the team to prepare,” he said. Rakgare said they always try to motivate national team athletes.