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Confidence was key

Oct 29, 2017

National Under 17 Women coach Odirile Mathaku says after taking over as head coach, it was key to win the confidence of the technical team first and restore their self believe and when he had that he let it float to the players.

“China” as he is popularly known said the result where always turnable looking at the second half performance in Zambia as the girls had snatched two valuable away goals in that period of the game. Mathaku told the BFA website that wining was not important but giving the players experience.

The girls had to fight and apply themselves which is very important in their football development. The same team crushed to Kenya in the under 20 World Cup Qualifiers and hence they had now some international experience to guide them.

“China” says the game plan of two early goals was key as it kept Zambia under a lot of pressure. They didn’t know whether to attack or defend, they panicked and we scored our third goal soon after halftime.

Botswana won 4-0 on the day and 6-5 on aggregate. The winner between Botswana and South Africa will go to the next round of qualification and move a step closer to qualification of Uruguay 2018.

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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.