Women making a marked difference in Botswana sport

Thuso Palai | Thursday October 15, 2015 15:22

Football is a predominantly male dominated sport, and having a woman as a second in command of an Association that runs the most popular, the most talked about, the most followed, and at times the most controversy riddled sport in the country and indeed in the world, is a most welcome development.

Women need to be involved to show that they can also do it. I have all the confidence that Akoonyatse will show her mettle and will be no push-over. With her will power, I know she will not just be there to add numbers and she will indeed make a marked contribution to Botswana football.

Being a woman who has a medical background, her appointment is also good news for women football and the medical side of football in Botswana.  Not that women football hasn’t been having an advocate, Akoonyatse’s appointment will add more voice and weight to the plight of women football in Botswana.

With so much happening in Botswana football, I foresee Akoonyatse being the calming voice and bringing in a different view to issues. I must commend the powers that be at BFA for voting in Ms Akoonyatse. She has proved her mettle over time on different positions.

Akoonyatse joins a long list of women who have held big positions in sport in Botswana and have made a mark. The likes of Dorcas Makgatho, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego, Game Mothibi and  Tsoseletso Nkala amongst others, have made a mark and shown that women are indeed capable and can even be better sport administrators. With their calm nature, they tend to bring sanity when there are strives.  

While the likes of Akoonyatse make a mark in sport administration, Women sport needs to be encouraged and promoted at school level. I for one feel that women can and will eventually bring more glory and international accolades for this country. We have great potential there and we have not been tapping on it.  Maybe it is time to re-focus and put as much effort in women sport as we do on male sport.