The team fared well on its debut, reaching the quarterfinals, and were only one match away from qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Upon arrival from their heroic display in North Africa, the Mares players were reportedly asked to surrender the kit.
According to sources, the entourage to Morocco had packed six sets of the playing kit, two for each of the home, away and alternative strips.
The players were in shock after an official at Lekidi Football Centre reportedly asked them to return the kits without giving any reason. “The BFA CEO (Mfolo Mfolo) had instructed that the players be informed to return the kits. We were not given a reason and this came as a shock.
I mean, this was the country’s first appearance at the tournament, the squad is part of history, and they need something that they can take home with, some sort of a souvenir, something they can remember their time in Morocco with.
It was until the interference of the general manager (Monnakgotla Mojaki) who opposed the idea,” the informer said. But Mfolo rubbished the reports and said the kit was with the Mares’ WAFCON 2022 squad.
“There is no truth in that statement,” Mfolo briefly said, in response to Mmegi Sport’s written enquiry. It is not the first time players have been at loggerheads with the authority over the return of playing kits used at a major tournament.
The national netball Under-21 team, Dinaletsana players were forced to return their playing kits and leisure gear used at the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup held in Gaborone.
The Mares, meanwhile, arrived back home last week without much fanfare despite the team’s performances that exceeded expectation. The hand that gives has been conspicuously absent as the team has only received P200,000 incentive from Lucara Botswana.
Ironically, the gift from the diamond mining company was announced after the Mares’ win in their first match against fellow debutants, Burundi and from then, the team went on to lose all their games.
