Speaking during the signing ceremony, FUB president, Onalethata Tshekiso said they will continue to enter into partnerships with local institutions because their plan is to empower players through education. “We encourage players to plan for life after their athletic career.
We continue to look for other partnerships that will enhance players’ careers. Regardless of how much you earn, life is very short. You should plan your life properly,” Tshekiso said. He also said as the players’ union, they have a responsibility to ensure that they mould responsible future citizens of this country.
“We need to help build players so that they can become important members of the society even beyond their playing careers,” he said.
For his part, CITF executive director, Sabryn Tsie said they are happy to partner with FUB for the noble exercise. “We all know football is a short career. We want to capacitate them so that beyond their playing career, they have something to fall back on. We now have 14 satellites centres across the country and it will make it easier for players who do not reside in Gaborone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Maclean Letshwiti said he is excited to witness such an important partnership to empower players. He said players are the most important stakeholders in the football industry. “We tend to forget players as soon as they stop playing. Without players there is no football. So we must look after them beyond their playing career. If you see a former player eating from the streets, people will see it as a true reflection of football and they will not encourage their kids to play football,” Letshwiti said.
