In 2019, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) under its technical director, Letsoaka Serame, embarked on a deliberate course to upskill local coaches. At the time, there were only three CAF A license holders being Phillimon Makwengwe, Ben Kgomela and Lesika 'Six' Keatlholetswe. That figure has improved significantly, with a significant number of coaches getting their badges in recent years. But their graduation has not translated to faith from local clubs who still prefer to cross the borders for tactical brain. Their qualification in a field which is more of a dog-eat-dog business does not necessarily translate into problem solving. Yes, the expectation will be that they will get the larger chunks of the available coaching gigs, but most of the time, in football, clubs go beyond just the papers. There are certain attributes that clubs consider before settling for their preferred man (or woman).
The local coaches will feel rightly disappointed as they play second fiddle, particularly for the lucrative jobs at big clubs like Township Rollers. It must, however, be understood and appreciated that the presence of some foreign coaches is beneficial to the game. Even what is regarded as the best league in the world, the English Premier League, is dominated by managers from outside. However, this should be carefully managed where doors should only be opened for those who add value. This means strict screening to ensure the league is not dominated by the so-called 'plumbers.' And again, one should not be too harsh on local clubs as they have given sons of the soil a chance. One might argue probably they need more time, but efforts have been made and there are visible strides to empower local coaches.
