Is BFA doing the right thing the wrong way?
Mqondisi Dube | Monday July 27, 2026 06:00
Botswana football has often come under increasing pressure for failing to prioritise the development of young players into the senior game.
Now the BFA has taken a radical path aimed at elevating young players but the move has been met with mixed reactions. In its new rules, released last month, the BFA has indicated that clubs must field at least five young players; three under the age of 23 and two under the age of 20.
“The purpose of the youth playing minutes is to prevent token compliance and ensure meaningful development exposure,” reads the rules in part.
The BFA’s decision to compel elite clubs to field five youth players has reopened an important debate about the balance between development and competition in Botswana football.
At face value, the policy appears to address a genuine concern. There is need to create more opportunities for young players and build a stronger pipeline of talent for the future. More young players need exposure, and clubs have been, through the new set of rules, asked to play a more prominent role in their development.
However, the question is not whether youth development is necessary. That is never in doubt. The bigger question is whether the FNB Premiership is the right place to force that development, and whether a mandatory quota is the most effective solution.
The elite league exists primarily as the highest level of domestic competition. It is where clubs invest significant financial resources, recruit experienced players and compete for trophies.
Everyone involved expects results. In such an environment, selection should ultimately be based on merit and obligation becomes secondary.
By requiring clubs to field five youth players regardless of their readiness, the BFA risks creating a situation where young players are promoted because of a regulation rather than because they have earned their place. That could be harmful to both the players and the quality of the league.
A talented youngster who is ready for senior football will naturally force his way into the team, without the need for a regulation.
But another player who still needs time and proper nurturing may struggle when exposed prematurely to the pressures of elite competition.
True development involves structured coaching and regular competitive matches at the appropriate level. The expectation is that there would be gradual progression rather than a parachuted approach.
Throwing young players into Premier League matches without ensuring they are ready may not produce better footballers.
The BFA’s focus might as well be on strengthening the structures below the elite level. South Africa’s Multichoice Disk Challenge reserve league is a case in point.
Strong youth leagues, properly organised academies and effective development programmes should become the foundation from which Premier League clubs recruit. The best young players should then naturally graduate into the senior ranks because they are prepared, not because clubs are forced to include them.
There is also a reality that cannot be ignored. Premier League clubs are built to compete. Many invest heavily in pursuit of trophies, as winning is central to their identity and survival. Expecting these clubs to suddenly prioritise development without creating a proper framework may be unrealistic.
The national team provides a useful comparison.
When national team coaches select the Zebras, the priority is not experimentation for its own sake. Players are selected because they have demonstrated the ability to perform at the highest level.
The national team benefits when it has players who have been properly developed before making that step.
The BFA’s objective of increasing youth participation is commendable and necessary. But the route to achieving it requires investment in development systems rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all requirement on elite clubs.