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BFA Awards 2023 – BFA President Mr Maclean C. Letshwiti – President’s Award Speech

Oct 10, 2023

Ladies and Gentlemen, I always emphasize in my speeches that football is a game of love.

And that is very true.

The man whose contribution to football we are going to recognize tonight is an embodiment of that. His love and passion for football is unparalleled. This man has been a player, a star player, and beyond that almost everything you can imagine in football.

Almost fifty years later he is still involved in football. His love for the game has not dimmed. In fact the older he gets the bigger his love for football grows. Here is a man who is aways looking for an opportunity to impart his immense knowledge and experience of football to others, especially to the young ones.

This superstar of yesteryear has over the years started numerous football academies for the benefit of our young people. Time after time he has demonstrated a remarkable eye for identifying football talent. And he simply enjoys and relishes to be involved at grassroots levels.

And for that reason he has groomed too many football players to count.

Sexton Matshidiso Kowa simply cannot get enough of football. He just cannot help himself. He sleeps football. He eats football. He breathes football and he lives football. For him football is everything.

To him this game is like a religion.

He puts it in every small conversation that he has. For his age Sexton still has boundless amounts of energy. At his age he continues to start new youth academies. Those of you who know Sexton, he was a superstar during his playing days. Sexton played football at a time when it was all done for fun.

He was among those of his generation who played football for the love of it. To this day he is involved in football for no gain. Yet during his life time football has changed beyond recognition. Today’s players earn six digits in a week. Rather than be in it for the love of it, today’s football players are celebrities, celebrated the world over.

We recognise Sexton tonight not only because of his direct contribution to football. Sexton has over the years through his academies used the game to put countless kids off the streets and away from drugs. When we say football builds communities, sexton is a living example of how one uses his talents and passion to build the communities he lives within.

Sexton has been a national football player and a national football coach. He has been BFA Technical Director. And in the 1970s he was involved in the creation of Mochudi Centre Chiefs. Many years later, Sexton was involved in the creation of yet another celebrated football Club: Desportivo Flamingoes.

Many people who are alive today have not seen Sexton play. Yet they are able to very easily associate him with football.

Ladies and Gentlemen, join me in giving the BFA Presidential Award to Sexton Matshidiso Kowa in recognition of his service and contribution to football.

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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.