The Botswana Football Association (BFA) is preparing to roll out its long-awaited academy programme, a FIFA-backed talent development initiative that acting chief executive officer Bathusi Rathari says should have taken off as far back as 2020.
The project aims to identify and nurture young football talent. It forms part of FIFA’s broader Talent Development Scheme (TDS), which seeks to address the persistent gap between countries that regularly qualify for the FIFA World Cup and those that struggle to reach the global showpiece.
Speaking to the News& All sports desk this week, Rathari explained that the programme emerged from findings by the Technical Study Group (TSG) following the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The assessment reportedly highlighted how the same countries repeatedly qualify for successive World Cup tournaments. This raised questions about how other nations could strengthen their talent identification and development systems.
“We are currently refurbishing the BFA hotels to make them habitable so that we can start the programme, which will be across the four corners of the country so that every kid is afforded the opportunity,” he said.
FIFA subsequently introduced the TDS to encourage member associations to develop structured programmes suited to their respective football environments. Rathari said FIFA’s chief of global football development, Arsène Wenger, had also recognised that African countries face different challenges, despite FIFA often developing programmes based on a standardised framework.
“He stated that African countries have different challenges affecting them, case by case, but when FIFA develops programmes, they develop them in standard across. He said he would like to have a programme which targets Africans so that they can fast-track development,” Rathari said.
He explained that the TDS provides each country with a framework to develop its own talent pathway. Selected youngsters are placed in a structured environment that combines football training with education.
“The aim is for the kids who have been selected to stay in one place, going to the same school,” he said.
The model is designed to provide young players with consistency in their football development while ensuring that education remains part of their daily routine. Rather than relying solely on scattered talent identification exercises, the academy approach seeks to bring promising players together under a coordinated programme.
According to Rathari, the initiative was piloted in 2023, with the association initially expected to roll it out in 2025. However, that target was missed because accommodation for the players was not ready.
The BFA is now refurbishing its accommodation facilities to make them suitable for residential use. Rathari indicated that the work is central to getting the academy operational.
Rathari said FIFA is funding the programme to the tune of US$100,000, approximately P1.38 million. The amount could increase to US$200,000, or about P2.76 million, if the association establishes a fully operational academy.
“We are currently refurbishing the BFA hotels to make them habitable so that we can start the programme, which will be across the four corners of the country so that every kid is afforded the opportunity,” he said.
The planned nationwide approach is significant in a country where access to structured football development opportunities varies between regions. The BFA intends to expand the initiative through satellite structures across its four blocks, allowing it to reach youngsters beyond a central academy base.
The first year is expected to focus on Under-13 boys, with girls to be incorporated in the second year, provided suitable accommodation for female players is ready.
This phased approach means infrastructure will be a key factor in determining how quickly the programme can expand. While the initial focus is on boys, the association intends to include girls once the necessary facilities are available.
Rathari said FIFA is funding the programme to the tune of US$100,000, approximately P1.38 million. The amount could increase to US$200,000, or about P2.76 million, if the association establishes a fully operational academy.
He added that FIFA could also provide a fully accredited coach whose salary would be covered by the global governing body. The BFA would, however, be responsible for accommodation and other related expenses.
