�Ronaldo� retained as women�s coach
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday June 20, 2017 16:21
The former Township Rollers coach was unveiled at the National Women Football Committee (NWFC) annual general meeting (AGM) over the weekend but she told Mmegi Sport that they are yet to finalise details of the contract, although she has assumed full duties.
Ronaldo returns to the post at a time when there is little activity in women’s football across the country. Women teams were left to endure a frustrating season, as out of the 17 regions, only the Francistown Region was able to complete their league. Nkutlwisang said due to recent troubles in women’s football it is going to be a difficult task to guide the Female Zebras to the COSAFA Women’s Championship scheduled for September in Zimbabwe.
“It is going to be a difficult task. It is going to take a longer time for a girl child to regain her full match fitness especially after spending six months without competitive football.
But if we can start our programme earlier, I think by the start of the tournament we would be at those levels,” she said.
Nkutlwisang further said despite lack of activity, she continues to scout in both official and unofficial tournaments. “I have long started looking for players. I would also use the BISA games to scout for more players. I am looking for players hopefully I would be able to assemble a strong squad.”
“The association will finalise our programme.
We could have long started because our teams do not usually get international friendly games.
But if we start early we would recover our fitness levels. I am also hopeful that this time around the (BFA) office would arrange a friendly before the tournament,” Nkutlwisang said.
Speaking at the women football AGM over the weekend, NWFC chairperson, Itsholeng Disang stressed the importance of having a national league as she said it would help in building a stronger national team.
“By the end of July we should be singing a different song ready to play the leagues and getting the best players for the national team. We also have the COSAFA Cup to be held in Zimbabwe in September and it is upon us to see how do we start today to prepare for those games,” she said.
The Female Zebras have been inactive for 14 months as they last played in the African Women Championships (AWC) qualifiers last year April, where they were knocked out by nemesis South Africa on a 5-0 aggregate score.
Meanwhile, Temogo Benjamin has been appointed as the Under-17 girls national team coach while Jacqueline Gaobinelwe is the new Under-20 coach.