Mokute Ready for the Challenge

Nov 11, 2020

The National Under 17 Head Coach Tebogo Mokute says that his charges are ready to fight for the Nation at the upcoming COSAFA Under-17 Championships.

Mokute and his charges have been in camp since the beginning of November and he believes that having the majority of his players familiar with each other will be an advantage.

The gaffer says the team was assembled in 2019 with the intention of building a strong base for the 2020 COSAFA Championship, which also serve as an Africa Junior Championship qualifier.

Tebogo Mokute believes that his team has gained experience over the past year which will allow them to hold their own at the Championships and the region.

The Diamond Zebras are in group B with Zambia, Malawi and Comoros. Mokute believes his team will be no pushovers as they also hubber qualification ambitions.

The Cosafa Under 17 will run from the 19th to the 29 November 2020, the winners and runner ups will qualify for the next under 17 Junior championship.

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Botswana and Algeria Strengthen Sports Ties, with Football Development in Focus

Francistown, Botswana – The Honourable Minister of Sport & Arts, Mr. Jacob Kelebeng, recently welcomed a courtesy visit from Honourable Walid Sadi, Algeria’s Minister of Youth & Sports, along with His Excellency Ambassador Abdelmalek Tigharhar of Algeria.

The discussions centered on fostering collaboration between the two nations in sports development, with particular emphasis on Paralympics, football, boxing, and athletics. This engagement presents valuable opportunities for Botswana to benefit from Algeria’s advanced sporting infrastructure, training programs, and technical expertise.

As part of the visit, Honourable Sadi also met with BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng, alongside Minister Kelebeng. Discussions highlighted Algeria’s well-established football development structures, coaching programs, and talent identification pathways, which could serve as a benchmark for Botswana’s football growth strategy.

BFA President Emphasizes Football Development

Speaking on the significance of the engagement, BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that Botswana stands to gain valuable insights from Algeria’s football model.

“Football development remains a key priority for the BFA, and this engagement allows us to benchmark against one of Africa’s leading football nations. Algeria’s structured approach to grassroots football, coaching development, and high-performance training presents a great learning opportunity for Botswana. We are excited about the potential collaborations that will enhance our football structures and elevate the sport in the country,” said Babitseng.

The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ms. Nancy Chengeta of the Ministry of Sport & Arts (MOSA), along with key sports leadership figures, including:

✅ BNSC Chairperson: Mr. Marumo Morule

✅ BNSC CEO: Mr. Tuelo D. Serufho

✅ BNSC Executive Management

✅ Botswana Football Association (BFA) Executives

✅ Various dignitaries and stakeholders

The BFA remains committed to building strategic international partnerships that contribute to the growth, professionalization, and long-term sustainability of football in Botswana.