The Botswana Boys National U-17 football Technical Team led by coach, Tebogo Mokute has started the process of rebuilding a formidable squad ahead of the upcoming African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 games slated for Lesotho in December 2021.

 

The first 35 players of the 70 players earmarked by Mokute reported for camp today (Friday, 23rd April 2021) at Lekidi Football Centre in Gaborone. Mokute looks to form a solid team as most of the 2020 U-17 players have morphed into the national U-20 team.

 

The 35 players are from the southern regions and are expected to spend three days with the technical team, who have an arduous task of selecting the best players from the copious group.

 

Prior to today’s camp, all players were tested for COVID-19 and results are expected later today.

On Tuesday, 27 April 2021, coach Mokute will welcome yet another batch of 35 players from the Northern regions who will subsequently spend three days undergoing a rigorous selection process.

 

Following the final selection, Mokute will then hold a two-weeks camp and start working on building a solid team to represent Botswana at the upcoming tournaments and other regional games.

 

“All the players who were part of the U-17 have graduated, so basically the 70 players selected is to help us get good players from this pool and prepare a team for the Region 5/COSAFA tournament in December and we are also eyeing the next U-17 AFCON finals. Even the age group of the players is based on the criterion of these tournaments respectively,” said Mokute.

The first five days will see the technical team selecting a strong side who will then go into a full camp to find rhythm in the squad.

 

Mokute also highlighted that the 70 players invited for selection are from the Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) and Botswana Primary School Association (BOPSA) structures, including the Elite youth league structures.