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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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Ramoreboli Names Final Zebras Squad For World Cup Qualifiers

The Botswana national football team, “The Zebras”, are gearing up for their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with head coach Morena Ramoreboli announcing his final 26-man squad ahead of the crucial fixtures against Algeria and Somalia.

The Zebras will continue their journey towards securing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with two important matches scheduled for later this month. They will face Algeria on March 21, 2025, followed by a clash with Somalia on March 25, 2025.

Ramoreboli had previously named an expanded provisional squad of 49 players last month as part of his preparations for the World Cup qualifiers. This final selection brings the squad down to 26 players, who will now look to deliver on the road to the World Cup Finals, to be held next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Among the notable inclusions in the squad are Theo Shadikong, a midfielder from TAFIC, and Kemoneetswe Mmangwedi, a defender also from TAFIC. Both players are receiving their first call-ups to the senior team. Another exciting addition is Reneilwe Batlokwa, a midfielder who plays in England for Maldo and Tiptree.

With these fresh faces, Ramoreboli’s squad brings a blend of experience and new talent, as Botswana aims to build momentum in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The final 26-man squad is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS

Lesenya Malapela

Kabelo Maphakela

Goitseone Phoko

DEFENDERS

Alford Velaphi

Kitso Mangolo

Mothusi Johnson

Kemoneetswe Mmangwedi

Thabo Leinanyane

Tebogo Kopelang