Red Roses’ remarkable rise: From Division 2 to Africa’s Top Eight
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 5, 2025 12:02
Pheresi joined Gaborone United (GU) as a Form 1 student in 2011. Then she was just a backup goalkeeper for a side competing in the then-Super League powered by AT&T Monnakgotla.
The 16-team Super League gave her the first taste of elite women’s football after school competitions. Pheresi said she was brought to GU by the team’s most loyal serving member, Gonayamodimo Macha.
Her early days at GU were tough. The team was a minnow in a league that featured heavyweights like Double Action, Township Rollers, Meat Girls and Mexican Girls. “It was rough then, as you remember, we did not only play in Gaborone. We used to travel to places like Kanye and Molepolole, amongst others,” she recalled. Passion was never lacking, but resources were.
At the time, GU Ladies did not pose a threat in the title race, cementing themselves in the mid-low positions. In 2016, when the Super League was abolished, the Gaborone Region split into two divisions, with Division 1 becoming the elite local league. GU hoped this restructuring would improve their chances for a shot at a maiden league title. Reduced travel meant facing local opponents more frequently, but the traditional giants remained dominant.
The team’s darkest moment came in 2022, when GU were relegated to Division 2. But Pheresi sees it as a blessing in disguise. “I would say there was support then, but the difference this time is tangible and visible support. All the players are being taken care of.
“They are now getting monthly salaries, with some players also being given accommodation by the club. If there is an injury, necessary medical support is provided until recovery,” she said.
GU bounced back swiftly, returning to Division 1 and finishing second. They earned a spot at the national playoffs but lost to Double Action, narrowly missing a berth in the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers. That defeat, however, was their last in regulation time in over two years. Determined to succeed, Red Roses strengthened their squad, poaching the country’s top talents. This helped them win the national championship in 2024, the first in the club’s history, a feat that saw the team qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers. On their debut, the Red Roses finished second to the University of Western Cape in a penalty shootout, narrowly missing a spot in the CAF Women’s Champions finals. For the 29-year-old Pheresi, the defeat was painful. She admitted, however, that it served as a motivation rather than disappointment for the team. They retained the local league title and returned to the regional stage stronger. GU crushed Kick4Life of Lesotho 10-1 and eliminated Costa do Sol of Mozambique on their way to reaching the final, where they faced Zambian side, ZESCO Ndola Girls. Again, a penalty shootout decided the winner. This time, Pheresi turned heartbreak into heroics, saving three consecutive penalties to lift the trophy for the first time.
“This time, we wanted it more. I remember last year I faced around eight penalties, but could only save one. But this time, I went on to save three penalties taken consecutively, so it meant a lot to us,” she said. Her stellar performance also earned her the Best Goalkeeper award.
Now, the biggest challenge awaits: the continental finals in Morocco this November. Red Roses will face the other five regional champions, the host champions, and the reigning African champions in an eight-team showdown from November 8 to 23.
Pheresi said the team is ready but called for financial support. “It is simple, we are going to compete. All we ask for is for the sponsors to contribute the little they may have to the team. This is to motivate us and enable us to compete at our best at the competition,” she appealed.
The Red Roses are poised to make history again, likely becoming the first team to use an all-local squad at the Champions League finals.
As Pheresi noted, “Local is lekker”, and the Roses are ready to prove it on Africa’s biggest stage. Local regulations hinder the registration of international players, and some teams believe it is time for a change.