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Oct 15, 2022

Botswana Senior Women national team “The Mares” were celebrated in a gleeful awards ceremony for their milestone debut at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2022

Giving his opening remarks Botswana Football Association president Mr Maclean Letshwiti expressed his gratitude’s towards the team for their milestone and sterling debut performance at just ended TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

“Ladies and gentlemen my job is quiet simple today. It is to thank the Mares, the beautiful team of ladies you see in navy blue and white. The Mares have done the footballing community and country very proud. Thank you to the ladies, their coaches and team management. The families of these ladies, I salute you too. Without you we would not have these ladies in the first place. We come a long way, together. That is why only you and I can tell people about the long road to our happiness today. The challenges that we confronted along the way before and after the all-important Slovakia camp, and the challenges that you still face as you embark on being the best in Africa” said Letshwiti.

He concluded by appreciating and thanking the government of Botswana and all sponsors for their warm support.

The team was awarded P1 880, 000.00.

In addition, the following women’s teams received the sum of P10,000.00 as a token of appreciation: Double Action, Francistown United, UB Kicks, Francistown United, and Prisons XI.

Dr. Lobone L. Kasale of the University of Botswana spoke at the ceremony on the nature of sports science and the importance of partnerships to ensure that Botswana athletes elevate Botswana to a higher level of the international sports arena.

Both team coach Gaolethoo Ronaldo Nkutlwisang and team captain Bonang Bebeto Otlhagile had the opportunity to stand behind the podium and recount their WAFCON journey from the preparation phase to the final day at Rabat, Morocco.

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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.