Mares beat odds to qualify
The Mares journey to the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) finals has not been smooth sailing. Gaolethoo ‘Ronaldo’ Nkutlwisang has persevered for years without a contract, with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) citing lack of funds for the situation.
After qualification on Wednesday, BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti said the association was looking into the issue and will offer the technical team and other officials a contract. It took qualification to the finals to force the association’s hand.
Nkutlwisang has worked for the association as a volunteer and last year indicated she was unable to scout for talent in other parts of the country because of a lack of resources. This after concerns the national team was not representative as it comprised mostly players from the south.
“I am unable to go around the country looking for players to be part of the national team owing to lack of resources. It is my biggest wish to have some of the national team players from other parts of the country.
What makes it even more difficult for me to go around the country and search for talent is that I work on a voluntary basis,” Nkutlwisang said at the time. On the field, the team had to contend with local practice matches as the association struggled to organise international friendly games due to the BFA’s poor financial position.
The team went into camp for the two-legged Zimbabwe tie early but was forced to play local matches as the BFA failed to secure international opposition. The women’s league has not been played since 2016 and there have been sluggish efforts to revive the game at the national level.
The BFA indicated it would start with regional leagues leading to the revival of the national competition. Up until last week when Lucara Diamond Company came on board with a P300,000 cash injection, the Mares had to do with paltry allowances.
To add salt to injury, funds meant for women’s football were redirected to fund other BFA operations. Despite odds heavily stacked against the Mares, the team has consistently alerted the authorities at Lekidi Football Centre of their potential.
The team reached the COSAFA Cup final in 2020, where they lost 1-0 to South Africa. In the same year, they beat a Banyana Banyana side fresh from the World Cup, to eliminate the neighbours from the Olympic Games qualifiers.