Local players chase lower divisions
Top Botswana football players are now amenable to plying their trade in lower division football leagues at more advanced markets as they seek greener pastures and gaining experience before stepping up to premier league teams.
In today’s globalised world, it’s very difficult to break into the top teams in foreign countries and hence a new emerging trend has seen local players settling for lower division teams where they can gain experience and attract international football scouts. Local football pundit , City Keagakwa is of the view that most of the lower divisions in more advanced markets are much improved than the domestic local league, “It depends on which country that league is at, the second tier league in England is still far much better than our league, GLad Africa League in South Africa is also bigger than our league here, both, technically, financially and administratively,” he stressed.
Keagakwa further commended players who have in the past crossed borders to explore their chances in the diverse football world, “for them to leave their country of birth to go and explore greener pastures elsewhere is something commendable. “It will build their character too, you look at Kabelo Seakanyeng; he’s 6 times better than the player he was when he left the country. Thatayaone Kgamanyane, when he came back from his short stint at Chippa United in South Africa, he was in a really good shape and there are many other examples.”
Kabelo Seakanyeng and Tumisang Orebonye are in the lower Morocco league, where they play for Olympique Club Khouribga.
That alone has increased their chances of playing in Europe considering the geographical location of the country and the possibility of having European scouts every now and then. “I’ve had a discussion with the players recently, they are also aware of that opportunity, but they are also aware that they first have to put performances for their team to stand a good chance to play in the upper division, “he said. For his part, Jimmy George who is the resident pundit at Botswana Television, says football by its nature should take you out of your comfort zone, “it’s a good thing that our players are venturing into uncharted territory. “These lower leagues will give our players the much needed exposure. Future generations will ply their trade in higher leagues, hopefully, but the idea is to play outside the country.”
George says their proximity to Europe puts them in good stead as they can even go to the middle- east, which rewards players handsomely. Previously, Kabelo Seakanyeng played his football in Malta, Mpho Kgaswane played in Azerbaijan and he currently plays for Cape Town Spurs in the South African second tier.