FRANCISTOWN, Botswana – The Botswana Football Association (BFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) Women representative, Lobito Ncube has called on the Women National Committee (WNC) to realize the potential women football has in the advancement of football.  

Speaking at the WNC meeting held at Adansonia Hotel in Francistown this past Saturday, Ncube urged the committee to give her adequate support in moving women football forward. Furthermore, Ncube called on the WCN to makewomen football representation present across all regions and structures of the FA. 

The Saturday meeting was the first to be held between WCN and the BFA NEC Women Representative member since efforts to meet in the past did not materialize due to challenges brought about due to Covid-19. 

“We need to robustly work together to enhance the potential in all of our members in the committee to fully function women football. In the past we have had extensive support from FIFA and we need to take advantage of that. FIFA came to Botswana and sat with this same committee where they assisted us with the Women Football Strategy, which gave women football a lifeline,” said Ncube.

Ncube further acknowledged her predecessors for the contribution they have made to women football over the years.

She shared that at the recent NEC engagement, a consensus was reached that women football will be a priority in the FA, giving assurance to WNC’s prowess of developing women football.

National Women Committee chairperson, Itsholeng Disang

“Therefore, it is important that from this meeting we come out stronger and more than ready. It is worth mentioning that, for the past few years in all international competitions for all our national teams and besides the challenges that we are already facing with our local leagues, we have seen women football growing and representing our country very well in international competitions,” highlighted Ncube.

For her part, National Women Committee chairperson, Itsholeng Disang said, “This is an opportunity for us to share information on all important and essential aspects around women football, discuss roles of NWC and that of the members of the committee. We need to make surewe all stand for the girl child and utilize Ncube’s presence in the BFA NEC to foster our growth.”

At the end of the meeting, twelve (12) resolutions which are expected to guide the phase of women football were met;

Resolutions 

1. Cascade women football strategy to the Block and Regional as well as increase number of regions taking part in women football. 
2. Increase the number of teams per region participating in women football. 
3. Strengthen categorized age based youth development teams within women football so to guard against MRI arising issues. 
4. Accelerate club licensing at women football in line with CAF requirements (currently clubs wishing to participate in the CAF women champions league have to undergo club license which they are not familiar with). 
5. Encourage competitions amongst women football teams by introducing incentives for top performing teams without leaving the emerging ones behind. 
6. Structure woman’s Football Competition to develop a clear pathway 
7. Set standards for women coaches at national team level just as it is done with the male counterparts section, to include better remuneration packages. 
8. Review the appointment/election of the women football committee to make it relevant to the current demands of women football. 
9. Solicit for sponsorship specifically for women football. 
10. Appoint women football sponsorship committee to solely concentrate on women football partnerships 
11. Train more women football administrators, referees and coaches with clear target and timelines.
12. Have women teams fully register for FIFA connect.