Young Zebras to play in Francistown

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) Francistown region is organising a select Under-23 side to play the Young Zebras in a bid to raise funds to pay outstanding allowances for referees. The game is also meant to bring the national football stars to the people.
Speaking at an emergency meeting at Francistown Civic Centre on Sunday, the BFA regional committee secretary Patrick Mathe stated that they are still waiting official confirmation from the head office though they have talked to Under-23 coach David Bright who accepted to bring his charges for the match. The Young Zebras left for China on Sunday for the four nations tournament.

Mathe conceded that the committee does not have money to pay the referees and they have decided to challenge the Young Zebras, hoping to raise money from gate takings. He revealed that they owe referees close to P30,000 for the past two seasons. In the previous season, referees boycotted lower division games to protest lack of pay.