19/08/2025
𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐄𝐂𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐅𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 – 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄, 𝟏𝟐 𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
Good afternoon, members of the media, football family, partners, and friends.
When we last met just 50 days into our term, I told you that we were building while flying the plane. We had inherited a game in motion and a country hungry for football success. Since
then, we have not just kept the game in the air we have charted a clearer course, accelerated our climb, and strengthened the wings that will carry Botswana football to new heights.
We have just come from our first Annual General Assembly, and it was the best in recent memory. Everyone spoke, everyone was given a chance to shape football and to share ideas on
how we can move forward and prevent challenges before they arise. For the first time, the NEC was there to account, and the delegates made us account openly and honestly. Beyond this, we
will win, and we will walk together.
I am proud of everyone because now we are a team, and I know exactly what the football family wants. The next Assembly will not be about talk it will be about presenting results, showing our progress, and proving that we are on the path to victory. That is why I am here today: to tell you that we are going to win.
Our vision is clear: to build a united, competitive, and sustainable football ecosystem where every child in every village, school, club, or academy can dream, develop, and rise to the highest level of the game. We exist for football development first, and everything else we do from governance reforms to financial stability is designed to enable that development.
We are building a continuous pathway from the grassroots to the elite game, so that a boy or girl starting in a schoolyard in Shakawe can progress through school leagues, community clubs,
regional academies, block tournaments, national youth teams, and finally to the Zebras or Mares. This is the heartbeat of our strategy.
Our women’s team, The Mares, competed courageously at the 2025 WAFCON in Morocco, finishing third in their group. CAF awarded them $150,000 approximately P2 million and in recognition of their effort, half ($75,000) will be given directly to the team as a bonus at their Homecoming on 20 August 2025. This is a clear message: when you work hard for your country, Botswana football will recognise and reward you.
The Zebras are preparing for AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Algeria (4 September 2025), Mozambique (8 September 2025), Uganda & Guinea (06–14 October 2025), followed by further training camps and a November tournament in Morocco. These matches are not just fixtures on a calendar they are opportunities to fly the Botswana flag high, to show
Africa and the world the strength, skill, and determination of our national team.
We are committed to giving the Zebras every possible resource and preparation to succeed from technical support to quality training camps. But this is also a call to all Batswana: your support
matters. Whether in the stadium, watching from home, or cheering on social media, stand with the Zebras. Let us unite behind them so that when they step onto the pitch, they know they
carry the pride of an entire nation.
Congratulations to Jwaneng Galaxy and Gaborone United for qualifying for CAF club competitions a huge achievement that keeps Botswana football on the continental stage. These
clubs will be our ambassadors in Africa, and they deserve the best possible preparation. That is why, when the Premier League clubs brought forward a proposal to allow registration
of up to five (5) foreign players in line with CAF competition regulations we listened, engaged with them, and agreed. We did so because we want our clubs to be competitive in Africa from
the very first game, not to start adjusting at the tournament; because CAF already allows five foreigners and aligning with this standard levels the playing field; because it supports the
Botswana Football League’s autonomy by giving clubs the tools to compete at the highest level; and because we can still protect our development pathways, ensuring that foreign players
complement rather than replace our homegrown talent.
We reaffirm our commitment to the Botswana Football League’s (BFL) autonomy for the Premier League. Autonomy is about professionalising the top flight, attracting sponsorships,
and creating a commercially viable product that benefits the entire football pyramid.
The BFA will continue to provide governance oversight and strategic support, ensuring that BFL operations align with the national football agenda while giving clubs the platform they need to thrive both on and off the pitch. As per the motion passed, the National First Division will be reintegrated under the BFA’s
structures while the BFL retains responsibility for the Premier League. This change follows the BFL’s request, recognising the need to focus on growing its capacity before it can effectively
manage the First Division.
The reintegration will stabilise the division, strengthen governance, and create a more connected football pyramid from grassroots to the professional game. The new structure will
ensure proper representation with one NEC member alternating between the North and South every two years, and each zone having two voting delegates at the General Assembly. Elections
for First Division Committees will be held in 2026 under BFA rules, establishing strong and democratic leadership to drive the division forward.
We are modernizing our Constitution to align with FIFA and CAF standards, ensuring transparent governance, efficient dispute resolution, and stronger accountability. Before the
elections, many of our biggest challenges came from weaknesses in the Constitution. Now, the Assembly has given the go-ahead for a full review and reform to fix these gaps once and for
all.
As part of this process, we will also align all our regulations including the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), the Rules of the Game, and the Regional Football
Association Regulations to match international best practice. This will create clarity, consistency, and fairness, and reduce unnecessary protests. It will not be a one-size-fits-all approach the BFL will have its own regulations, the First Division its own, and the Regional
FAs theirs where applicable but the Constitution will remain the universal “bible” binding every structure together.
In less than a year, we have reduced our deficit from P5 million to just P300,000.
This is the result of discipline, partnership, and financial planning. We have tightened expenditure, grown commercial revenue, and improved sponsor relations. Our aim is to break even next year, then move into surplus and every p**a of that surplus will be directed towards football development, especially grassroots and youth structures.
Women’s football is earning international respect. Our WAFCON appearances have put Botswana on the African map. Plans for a Women’s First Division League are well advanced,
with a dedicated media session to share full details.
Grassroots football is the foundation of everything we do. Through initiatives like the Choppies Youth Cup and our U15/U17 competitions in every RFA, we are creating a national platform
where talent can be spotted early, nurtured systematically, and prepared for elite competition.
This journey is not just for players referees, coaches, and administrators will also progress from community football to national and international levels through structured development
pathways. We continue to lobby for the return of school sports and will support government and teachers with technical training and equipment. Last weekend we provided Betesankwe with football
gear, and we will select more schools for support so that no corner of Botswana is left behind.
Lekidi Investments is now operational, with a mandate to commercialise BFA assets developing land countrywide, upgrading hostel facilities, and bringing in investors to make
football financially independent. At the Kasane Leadership Retreat, we refined our corporate strategy shifting from short-term
revenue chasing to a deliberate, long-term approach to business development that will secure football’s future.
We are also working with Thomas Hall, Digi Worx, Mascom, and Black Mobile to boost fan engagement with SMS competitions and football trivia. These are not just entertainment they raise funds for national teams and keep fans connected to the game. The media will remain part of our processes. Your role is to help us tell the story of Botswana football, connect the game to the people, and be part of the vehicle that raises the money needed to drive positive programmes. We have already seen the value of having you on the journey Anastacia Sibanda’s coverage of The Mares in Morocco was a powerful example of how football stories can inspire the
nation. That was a starting point for the greater good, and we want to build on it.
We will soon host a BFA Open Day at Lekidi, where you will see our work first-hand. There will be 5-a-side games and other activities, and our team is ready. I will be the goalkeeper, so
be prepared to face me! The upcoming Regional Football Regulations will focus on compliance and introduce new
structures that will transform how football is administered at the regional level. Each region will be provided with a detailed manual to guide how they conduct their business, from governance to competitions to securing sponsorships. Regions will be empowered to attract and manage their own partners, while the BFA supports their structures and ensures alignment with national objectives. We are giving them the power to grow their football communities from within.
The same approach applies to the Women’s Football Committee, which is undergoing restructuring to meet the growing demands of the game. By the time the Women’s First Division League launches in October, the committee will be ready with a strong and capable
structure to support it. The league will be played this year, and the “how” of its operation will come from the people on the ground — not as a top-down directive, but through a bottom-up approach where the football family builds what they will own. We have given them all the tools they need; now, they will shape the future.
We now have 19 Regional Football Associations following the addition of Makgadikgadi and Okavango. This expansion ensures more representation, more competitions, and better access to football development opportunities in areas that previously had to share administrative structures. It means more players, referees, coaches, and administrators will have a direct pathway into the national football ecosystem, and that football is truly for every
corner of Botswana.
We proudly celebrate Mr. Tebogo Sebego’s appointment to the FIFA Appeals Committee one of the highest judicial bodies in world football. This is not just a personal achievement for him;
it is a milestone for Botswana football. It puts us on the global decision-making map, strengthens our voice in international football governance, and opens the door for more
Batswana to contribute at the highest levels of the game. We will work with Mr. Sebego to leverage his position to bring opportunities, knowledge, and influence back to our football
structures.
We also celebrate Ms. Tsholofelo Setlhoko, who has been appointed as a FIFA Women’s Football Development Expert. This is a major recognition of her expertise and a testament to
the progress we are making in women’s football. Her role will not only elevate our women’s game to global standards but will also ensure that Botswana is part of shaping the future of
women’s football internationally. These two appointments show that Botswana talent is worldclass, and that our people can lead, influence, and inspire far beyond our borders.
We also take pride in the fact that yours truly, the President, now forms part of this global representation, having been appointed to the COSAFA Executive Committee. This is not just a personal honour but a sign that Botswana’s voice is being heard and respected at the regional
level.
More Batswana are serving in various capacities across competitions from COSAFA to CAF to FIFA and we are confident that many more appointments will follow. This growing presence
on the international stage reflects the respect our football community has earned and the potential we have to influence and shape the game beyond our borders.
Bagaetsho, football is more than a sport it is a unifier. It brings together people from every region, background, and walk of life.
From the grassroots coach in the village to the national team player abroad, our mission is to empower everyone in the game. The road is long, but we are moving forward and with unity, we will get there.
