KEYS TO AFRICA
Prisons hold Botswana’s fortunes at their feet
Prisons Ladies will be looking to break free from the shackles of mediocrity when they represent the country at the first ever Women’s COSAFA Championship League.
Although neither a date nor a venue for the competition has been confirmed, the footy feast is expected to play out in either June or August.
Prisons will line up against teams from seven other countries in the region, including powerhouses of the women’s game such as South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns FC and Black Rhino Queens (Zimbabwe).
The eight sides will be divided into two groups, with the group winners advancing to the CAF Champions League. There they will meet the winners of similar tournaments being held throughout Africa.
With domestic football currently at a standstill due to Covid-19, Prisons were selected to represent Botswana after responding to a call out from the BFA.
The Association had asked all local ladies’ teams eager to play in the tournament to submit ‘an expression of interest’.
They had to meet a number of requirements, including: availability of training ground and match hosting venue, up-to-date registered playing squad, and prove their financial viability.
Two-time Botswana Champions met these stipulations and thus won the right to represent the nation.
In a brief interview with Voice Sport, the club’s Coach, Quelch Moroke, was buzzing with excitement at the thought of potential African glory.
“We are happy to be tasked with an opportunity to represent the country at the Women’s CAF Champions League. We are going to make the country proud,” he declared confidently.
Having gone well over a year without any action, Moroke stressed his troops were hungry to make up for lost time.
“We have been doing individual training as we have not yet been given permission to return to playing fields and it is has been going well so far, the girls have been responding well.”
Despite his optimism, Moroke admitted his players will have to dig deep to overcome their rustiness and lack of match fitness.
“The challenge is that our preparations for this tournament are going to be difficult because we will not be able to play friendly matches to test our match fitness. We are hoping to definitely have a run with the national team when they go to camp,” he said.
For her part, Prisons Ladies FC Captain, Nondi Mahlasela - one of seven national team players in the Prisons squad - said the girls were extremely excited to be taking part in such a historic event.
“Football has been absent for a while now, but this announcement has made everyone at the club happy. They are highly motivated and can’t wait for the games to kickstart,” said the striker, whose form up front will go a long way to determining whether Prisons can make an impact at the tournie or not.
Echoing her coach’s confidence, Mahlasela said the local ladies will be going all out for victory.
“Our biggest aim is to triumph at the prestigious tournament and that will be basically upon us as players. We are going to make sure that we respond to the coach’s training plans so we get up to speed with international standards,” stated the Botswana Vice Captain, who knows exactly what it takes to succeed on the international scene.