President Duma Boko has said six local football coaches will be sent to English giants Manchester United to study elite football operations. He described the move as a major breakthrough for Botswana football.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Boko said the initiative is aimed at strengthening local coaching standards and accelerating the development of the domestic game.
“Six local football coaches drawn from our local football structures will travel to Manchester United to study elite football operations, immerse themselves in world-class academy structures and learn directly from the club’s rich football heritage. The knowledge and experience they gain will be brought back home to strengthen coaching standards, player development and the overall growth of our game,” the President wrote.
He further emphasised the broader vision behind the initiative. “This collaboration is fundamentally about development, opportunity and raising the standard of football in Botswana.”
The names of the six coaches are expected to be announced next Monday.
The development follows a recent meeting between Boko and Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe in Maun. Ratcliffe, a British billionaire industrialist, is the founder of INEOS and is associated with the Ineos Grenadier safari vehicles used in the Okavango Delta.
Boko first referenced the growing relationship earlier this week during the Kazungula Bridge Authority launch, where he spoke about a conversation with Ratcliffe about the future of sport.
“I was speaking to Sir Jim Radcliffe of Manchester United a few days ago. He said sport has evolved and become a sprint. He said the future of football is in Africa,” Boko said.
