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Youth League Speech by BFA President

Nov 16, 2016

Chairperson of BNSC, Mr. Solly Reikeletseng

Media Practitioners

Ladies & gentlemen, Dumelang!

I am truly humbled to be part of this occasion this morning, for this great occasion which marks the beginning of a journey which ended in 2012 AFCON. It gives me great pleasure because we are here to affirm our commitment to enhance and to improve the standard of football. This project will be connecting all children in the country, from North, East, West and South.

Just as a brief background to the project, you will recall that throughout my campaign. I have always been keen on the youth development and as such has continued to actively participate in the youth development. NEC approved the budget which has objectives to guide, coordinate and integrate initiatives in order to transform Botswana football into a globally competitive knowledge through effective development programme.

Project mandate

To create a pool of well developed athletes (football players) in Botswana
Increase the chances of Botswana to qualify for the world major competitions, and compete meaningfully in football
Provide alternative employment opportunities through football
Play a role as football on the national agenda of economic diversification
To use football to develop socila skills among youth thus unifying the nation.

Project goals

To help the nation realize its football potential
To use football as a source of life education
To make sound decisions in their lives
Compete in local and international football high competitions
Create a football nation that produces role models for which younger generations can envy.

Project model

All the BFA 17 Regions will run a maximum : (Boys and Girls)

U-17 20 teams * 25 players per reg = 8500 kids
U-15 20 teams * 25 players per reg = 8500 kids
U-13 20 teams * 25 players per reg = 8500 kids

A total number of 25, 500 children will be participating in this noble project

The competition format will be as follows:

Games will be played per team in a region: 20 teams (boys and girls) x 38 = 760 games starting with:

Regional League
Inter- Regional tournaments
Inter – Block tournaments
National Championship
Re-Introduction of Schools of Excellence during school holidays
Utilisation of Centers of Excellence as set by government
Introduction of Four/Six nations tournaments in Botswana
Participation in most of International annual youth tournaments

It is in pursuit of these noble project, BFA together with other stakeholders have gone further to launch it in Ghanzi, Kasane, Gaborone just to mention but a few. These projects have in return culminated in the birth of girl child projects which will be starting December 2016. I am told that villages in west, east, south including all other villages in the north are covered through this initiative.

This project is just one of the key projects that we undertook this year. Other development includes the expansion of women football in all BFA regions.

Throughout the implementation of the project, we made sure all BFA regions benefit from this project. They are assisted with Football kit, Football balls, Cones and Bibs. All this equipment was procured from Batswana companies, which is investing in Batswana as a football community “Re ka Botswana”.

Director of ceremony, these new developments bring new opportunities such as employment creation, healthy life style and better football players for our elite game.

To the end users, the development will usher in a new era where we as a nation are able to compete globally. This new era also offers the opportunity to us as a nation to now start looking at creating businesses as we will be soon having a professional workshop on football.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the BSNC for the support that you have shown in ensuring that as BFA we are able to achieve our mandate and the mandate of the ministry. We are hopeful that you will continue to provide that much needed financial support in the future to enable us to reach out to even more communities and to enable us to modernize our football.

With those few remarks, I want to thank you all for your attention

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Setlhoko Appointed as FIFA Women’s Football Development Expert

FIFA has announced the appointment of Ms. Tsholofelo Setlhoko as a FIFA Women’s Football Development Expert, joining a global network of qualified professionals dedicated to the growth and development of women’s football worldwide. This prestigious appointment recognizes Ms. Setlhoko’s exceptional contributions to the sport and her commitment to advancing women’s football across Botswana and beyond.

Launched in 2020, the FIFA Women’s Football Development Programmes have been instrumental in strengthening women’s football through targeted support for Member Associations. With the recent relaunch of the programme in December 2024, FIFA aims to expand its impact across all 211 Member Associations, offering tailored assistance that reflects the unique contexts and needs of each nation.

In her role as a FIFA Women’s Football Development Expert, Ms. Setlhoko will leverage her vast experience in football administration, strategic planning, and grassroots development to support Member Associations in implementing sustainable growth strategies. Her leadership within the Botswana Football Association (BFA), particularly in spearheading initiatives for women’s football, has set a benchmark for development and community engagement.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed as a FIFA Women’s Football Development Expert. This is not only a personal achievement but a victory for women’s football in Botswana. I look forward to sharing best practices and supporting the growth of women’s football in other Member Associations,” said Ms. Setlhoko.

The President of the Botswana Football Association, Mr. Tariq Babitseng, also expressed his pride in Ms. Setlhoko’s achievement, stating, “Tsholofelo’s appointment is a testament to her dedication and hard work. Her expertise and passion for women’s football are unmatched, and we are confident that she will make a substantial impact globally.”

Ms. Setlhoko’s appointment marks a significant step forward in the representation of African women in global football development. As she embarks on this journey, she remains committed to championing women’s football and inspiring the next generation of female athletes and administrators.