Kanaimba said the global economic downturn cannot be used as an excuse by donors as the 'fatigue' started long before the recession hit the country. "This decline in the number of donors will not dampen our spirits if we stay focused on what we want to achieve," she declared. Kanaimba praised former Botswana Football Association (BFA) president Phillip Makgalemele, under whose leadership FODA was launched, and his successor David Fani for the good job they are doing for the development of soccer in the country.
Choppies Superstore managing director, Rashid Chopdat said very few people from the business community are supporting the initiative. "Even some people from the soccer fraternity are not coming forward to show support for the initiative, despite soccer being the major benefactor here," Chopdat said. "We have not seen anyone from the Premier League, First Division or even the lower divisions lending a hand to this initiative, and this worries us," he said. FODA is a brainchild of BFA aimed at raising funds from the public to help develop soccer at the grassroots level. It was launched in May 2007. FODA has held fundraising events and at one time, local businessman-cum-politician Satar Dada pledged P100,000 to the initiative. Members of the public have contributed heads of cattle to FODA. The money raised will be used to build soccer academies around the country.
