Women gain ground, but remain on the periphery

Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 7, 2020 12:25

 

Women gain ground, but remain on the periphery

Women’s participation in football has gained traction over the years, and so have their involvement in leadership roles.

Not too long ago, football was considered a male preserve, with fewer women involved. However, FIFA’s deliberate programmes have catapulted women to the limelight, with particularly the girl-child allowed a fair share of a stake in the game.

The decision to allow women to play the game has seen countless stars produced, with Brazil, Germany and the United States, the dominant forces on the global stage.

Botswana has made steady, but unspectacular progress. The Mares, in particular, have progressively raised their hand within the region, becoming a constant irritant to COSAFA powerhouses, like South Africa.

It was only last year that The Mares, the women’s senior team, brewed a shocker, when they defeated a South African side. Banyana Banyana were fresh from the World Cup and the Mares had not been given an iota of chance.

The Under-17 held the nation spell-bound, walloping Zimbabwe 7-0 in the World Cup interest, to continue an upward trajectory for women’s football.

Women’s football has thrived, despite falling far behind their male counterparts in terms of financial support.

Recently, FIFA gave the Botswana Football Association around P6 million, dedicated to women’s football.

The world soccer governing body has been unequivocal that there is need for a deliberate acceleration of the women’s game.

With action on the pitch heating up, there has been considerable interest from women administrators.

The upcoming BFA elections have seen a spike in women’s interest as six female candidates from across the three camps have raised their hands for consideration.

Itsholeng Disang, Joy Setshedi, Lobito Ncube, Tsoseletso Magang, Kesego Okie and Theresa Hirschfeld, find themselves amongst 23 names in the hat for consideration when delegates cast their vote on August 22, 2020.

While there is increased interest it, however, remains relatively low, at 26%. The position of female representative in the BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) largely contributes to a higher number of women participants.

Four of the six candidates are contesting for the ‘reserved’ female representative seat. It leaves only two women, Hirschfeld and Okie to contest against their male counterparts for the ordinary member position.

Okie attributes interventions like the United Nations’ HerForShe project for opening doors for women.

“I am confident that voters will base their decision on capability and not on gender. Even then, time is now for Botswana football to benefit immensely from hardworking and passionate women. The desire is to restore the credibility and image of the game locally, and transport it optimally and grow it exponentially,” she said.

Women still find themselves having to scratch the barrel while men get the fattest cut.

The top positions are still contested for by men, and no woman has ever held the presidency.

Game Mothibi, International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport executive board member, believes the representation of women in the elections is too low.

“I think the most important thing is interest from the sport leadership. We have tools to use to make sure women’s sport takes shape but someone needs to use the tools and monitor progress.

“We need effort from BNSC, BNOC and MYSC. There is Women and Sport Botswana (WASBO), but how much work have they done. Is the environment conducive to effect change? Botswana hosted IWG, and then what? The Sport Act of 2014 has created a WASBO seat on the board, to do what exactly?” quizzed Mothibi.

She argued, there is a lack of political women to ensure women are afforded equal opportunities.

“But since we are where we are and nothing is moving, we can start with a quota system. Women are there, they are capable but the system makes it difficult for them to serve,” Mothibi said.

She acknowledged that there has been an increase in the number of women contesting the BFA elections, but added there was lack of strategy and communication within the contesting female candidates.

“Had they communicated their desire to stand for office, they could have spread themselves across all positions to increase their chances of going into office,” Mothibi said.