COVID-19 costs Mares duo Slovakia trial
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday June 12, 2020 11:04
The pair was invited for a four-month trial with the side from March 3 until June 30, but that was called off.
The players’ representative, Moran Nthoiwa of Nthoiwa Sports Excellence said due to the international travel ban, the duo will miss out on the trial, but he remains optimistic that they will secure a move abroad post the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Women football is still not back in Slovakia. The embassies are also closed and no foreign national is allowed in the country except from a handful of mainly European countries. So we are working on other options. We had some enquires about the players, but nothing is finalised yet. We will be able to share once the information is concrete,” Nthoiwa said.
This has halted the players’ dream of being the first locals to play in the UEFA Champions League. Bardejov currently sit second in the 10-team league, just two points behind the log leaders.
They have won the league once and finished as runners-up on four occasions. The team has one appearance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League in the 2018-2019 season and could make their second showing next season.
Bosija currently plays for Bloemfontein Celtic in South Africa. She helped the team finish third in the previous season. Tholakele is a Township Rollers player.
Meanwhile, SAFA National Women’s League’s (SNWL) side, University of Johannesburg (UJ) has opened doors for Botswana players. In a memo shared by the Botswana Football Association (BFA), UJ is inviting elite women footballers and Under-20 men and women footballers for the next season offering player scholarships.
“The University of Johannesburg is looking for Botswana ladies international players who are willing to study and play in the SAFA Women’s National League in the next season,” the statement reads.
Only three local women footballers ply their trade abroad. Bosija is with Celtic in South Africa, Mitchell Abueng is with Nyasa FC player in Zambia while Thuto Ramafifi plays for Albany State University in USA.