Nkutlwisang G comes from far
Amongst the few elite women coaches of football in the world
TAFICOn 28 July 2022, the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games lody officially Dube opened was the in Birmingham, first MotswaEngland, with more than 5,000 na athletes to reach from the 72 finals countries of competing the across 280 events. Olympics. Botswana has He sent achieved a team of this 35 athletes at to represent
the country, 2000 Summer with the highest Olympics, age of which an athlete on the team
being 47, from Bowling, and the lowest being Neo Phatsima
were held in Sydney, Australia. Glody
at 16. The Games will run until 08 August 2022. This year’s
was Botswana’s middle distance runner,
cations in Refrigeration and Air
games came with notable records for Botswana, through
conditioning, and Mechanical En
who Neo Phatsima, specialized a Squash in 800 athlete, metres. who was born on 15 March
gineering. She highlighted that she
2006. The Phatsima Summer was Olympic amongst Games the multitudes are a
chose football because she possesses that witnessed
major the opening international ceremony multi- in Birmingham, sport event. registering herself
talent for it, and according to her assessment, it is talent given to her
Competing in the history in books these as games the youngest is almost athlete to represent
by God. Looking back to her early
every Botswana athlete’s at the games, beginnings, dream and and she one recalls requires of that the she first was squash female
consistency athletes to compete in training never at the taught level trapping and of the massive or Commonwealth controlling Games,
the ball, it was a skill that just came
since Botswana’s first participation in 1974. The 16 year old
amounts in of determination. on 1974. its own. The games The
representing the country She hinted in the that, women’s while she doubles was and women’s
are held once every four years.
singles of Squash, still together playing, drawing with 17 some year inspiraold Leungo Katse. Phatsima Through started his playing squash at the age of 10 at Camp
tion achievements, from Brazilian and Glody England Football ladies, she had set herself
is Primary an inspiration School in Gaborone to upcoming and in and 2016 she joined
a goal of transitioning from playing
younger Botswana athletes. Squash to Rackets coaching, When Association and he acknowledged competed athlete that development
at program, the Sydney which 2000, later this was led Australia however to her not qualification Summer an easy jourfor the games.
ney. Nkutlwisang advised that one
Olympic Other young Games, participants he had at just the completed games include 14 year
needs persistence, determination
his Anahat Botswana Singh, who General is the youngest Certificate participant of
and focus to achieve these goals as a of the Indian contingent, also playing woman squash, in sport. She and further 14 year stresses old diver, Charli
Secondary Education ( BGCSE) at
that in addition to deliberate and
Petrov of Australia. In another historic event, the Botswana
Maun Senior Secondary School. He
systematic approaches to producing
Chess Federation Senior Women National Team is compet
more women coaches in sport, one
was ing at under the 44th the Chess tutelage Olympiad, of Coach in Chennai, Adam
really must love coaching to be able India, with
The Botswana Letham, youngest Women’s team who senior to was ever also compete his mentor. at the level of the Olympiad.
to take the coaching route. Amidst national team, The Mares made all the shine and glory, Nkutlwisang
Other events that he has competed
their break and first appearance at regrettably notes and warns that, the Women’s Africa at include, Cup of Nations the sometimes 1997 African good performance Junior in ( WAFCON) tournament which sport does not come with upgrade
Championships, 1998 Commonwealth
was held in Morocco in July 2022. of opportunities or certainty of This maiden appearance Games, was 1999 hisWorld continuation Indoor of one’s Champirole within the toric moment in Botswana Women sporting fraternity. From page 32
onships, 1999 World Championships,
Football. The woman at the helm of On what needs to be done to grow
1999 have All- to satisfy Africa club women Games, licensing sport, From 2001 especially requireWorld football, it all and driver who held the reigns and led The Mares ments, to their we Championships, have to move at a
Indoor maiden Nkutlwisang 2001 added lightning that World women
requireappearance was none other than sport, needs more qualified people
Championships, speed to make sure 2002 that Commonwealth all is in place
coach, Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang. to better guide its delivery and Nkutlwisang and before her team the proved season results, starts,” and that Dipholo more financial
in place Games, 2003 World Indoor Champi
as worthy title relayed. contenders In during their bid support to transform from sponsors the is required
onships, 2003 World Championships,
the qualifying stages and at the to augment government support.
drastically dwindling fortunes of the
Total Energies 2004 WAFCON Olympic 2022 in Games and 2007 All
She also emphasized that a large
side, the club has been fully registered
Morocco, where the team displayed part of achieving growth in women some good performances, as a company, eventutrading football as is by Tafic introducing Sportmore girls
GU, Systems
ally proceeding ing to the Club. quarter Engagements finals to the sport with at potential an early age and by of the event, and nearly making a targeting young girls at grassroots historic qualification for the World level, especially in schools. Cup. On the future of The Mares,
Nkutlwisang is one of the few Nkutlwisang adds with enthusifemale coaches that exists in sport. asm that, The Mares has quality While female participation is and potential and that it can bring
BG correspondent side is expected
needed at all levels, from players more trophies provided that there to leadership, and coaching, the is support financially competitive towards the in Africa number of FOOTBALL women coaching in team, and other incentives for play
their dominance
sport is fewer than 50 percent. ers and coaches, because from her
The journey across the Affootball. The team
Nkutlwisang pointed out that she experience and observations, The
rican continent has been the two available
chose football at an early age, and Mares is competing against teams
thrilling for most local teams last season and expectation
while growing within the sport, she whose players are better catered for, made deliberate efforts, intention financially and otherwise.
lately, with the chase for
and plans to later transition into that they will take their
Nkutlwisang and The Mares’ coaching, choosing better a terrain results that in is continental
achievements are significant be
to Africa. This will be
mainly male dominated, and rarely cause they are not only historic
football seemingly possible,
chosen by women. She travelled this for Botswana. They are also opportunity, sigjourney with Gaborone determination United and nificant and because, Selooking back and
for the club and support
has now given Botswana its best investigating the history of women
curity Systems will take up
Women Football performance so football, one acknowledges ers but how the for Coach
far, through The the Mares. challenge in this game season’s had to overcome discrimina
Morapedi and his
Nkutlwisang shared that her love tion and difficulty to get to where
CAF Champions League and
for football started around 1986, it is today, following Pontsho the Football Moloi to
when she was CAF doing standard Confederations 1 in Association’s Cup ban of women’s games
other renowned tacticians
Gantsi. Absence of proper facilities in 1921, on the grounds that it was
respectively. The two sides
and equipment then did not deter not a game for women. the This African was a continent.
will have a bit of significant pressure setback With the team
her from playing, as she and her that delayed the friends came up with creative ways development of women’s football for
through their journey given revamped the squad
of crafting balls for themselves with about 50 years.
the recent performance of loa few exceptional
plastics. Her strong love for the The Team’s good performance
cal teams in the competition including sensational
game of football saw her taking part and rise to glory booked them a date in class football challenges while with His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi
in the last few years, Town
at primary school. She continued Mothusi Cooper,
Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of with the sport ship at secondary Rollers school have managed
the Republic of Botswana, and The
dominant Money
in Maun, playing against men, until First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs Neo
to make the group stages in
she relocated to Gaborone in the Jane Masisi, who joined should the apprehave a very
1990s to join 2018 Double and Action Jwaneng Footciation Galaxy brunch in their honour this
team with the likes
ball Club and further her studies. past weekend at the State House
in the last season. Both GU
Nkutlwisang now holds qualifiGrounds, in Gaborone. Kgaswane, Thatayaone and Systems will be lookand Goitseone ing to replicate this kind of performance.