Save women football

Mmegi Editor | Friday February 3, 2017 15:01

The women play three qualifying rounds to reach the regional spectacular (Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCN).

The top three teams at the AWCN qualify for the World Cup. On the hand, their male counterparts have to play a minimum of six games to qualify for the African Cup Of Nations (AFCON).

Despite this undemanding process to reach the competitions the female Zebras are yet to qualify for the AWCN and it falls down to one reason, women football is taken for granted. The start of the Women's Super League that is the main source of national players was postponed more than once owing to a number of reasons, one being the referees' payments issue that remains unresolved to this day.

The league started with only six weeks remaining before the festive break thus meaning only a minimum five games were played. The league that was already two months behind schedule was set to resume on the second week of January 2017 but failed as teams decried lack of funds.

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) president Maclean Letshwiti made women one of his priorities during his campaigns but the status of women football has reached new depths since he took over.

The BFA should exhaust the P350, 000 FIFA grant to resurrect women football. The amount alone is enough to run the elite league. The sum would cover the transport costs for the teams, the players and referees' dues.

The league is on its fifth year without a sponsor with BFA and the league committee failing to secure sponsorships. The BFA should come with a robust plan to make the league attractive for potential sponsors.

The last sponsor pulled out, as the company was not making enough profits. The leadership at Lekidi Football Centre should hire a marketing team that would brighten up the league. The BFA should seriously consider giving the league committee powers to be independent.

The idea of seeking sponsors for the league through Lekidi head office has proven to be a long process, which has time and again backfired. The league committee best knows their needs, thus making them the best people to sought sponsorship for the league.

Women football is in doldrums in the hands of the same people who promised the nation they would resurrect it.

It is high time for Letshwiti and his administration to walk the talk.

Today’s thought

“Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.”

 

–  Swami Sivananda