Fresh off securing one of Southern Africa’s most influential football roles, the COSAFA presidency, Botswana Football Association (BFA) president Tariq Babitseng stands at a pivotal crossroads.
His recent election to lead the regional body has thrust Botswana into the spotlight within Southern African football circles and placed Babitseng among the continent’s rising football administrators.
While much of the attention has centered on his regional ambitions and expanding influence beyond Botswana’s borders, a quietly transformative project is unfolding closer to home. Beneath the headlines celebrating his COSAFA triumph lies what could be the most significant policy intervention in Botswana football in recent memory; the BFA Impact Programme. This initiative aims to overhaul the governance, funding, and development of football across the nation through a comprehensive new framework.
Though Babitseng’s regional duties continue to grow, the BFA insists that this domestic initiative remains the cornerstone of his administration’s legacy. At the heart of the Impact Programme is a radical restructuring of how Regional Football Associations (RFAs) operate and receive funding. The program introduces a tiered classification system that sorts regions into Tier 1 (high capacity), Tier 2 (emerging), and Tier 3 (development), with each tier carrying tailored development responsibilities.
Under this model, expectations are aligned with regional capabilities. Tier 1 regions are tasked with managing up to eight grassroots centers and fully structured U21 leagues, while Tier 3 areas implement scaled-down versions of these programs. The BFA’s goal is clear: no region should be left behind in football development.
Funding is split into four distinct components: 35 percent for base operational grants, 50 percent for development activities, 10 percent for performance incentives, and 5 percent earmarked for strategic interventions. Notably, the development funds are ring-fenced to ensure direct investment into key areas: 40 percent to grassroots football, 20 percent to youth development, 15 percent to the U21 community football program, and 10 percent to women’s football.
In an interview with WeekendSport, BFA NEC member Bathusi Rathari described a shift in how football development funds will be managed. “The new model is aimed at cutting inefficiencies and making sure more money reaches the pitch instead of being swallowed up by administrative costs,” Rathari explained.
He emphasized that the restructuring is meant to fundamentally change how the association handles regional funding. Gone are the days of automatic subventions; now, regions must submit detailed applications outlining how they plan to use funds for football development in their communities. “Regions will no longer just receive funds. They must tell us what they’ve identified as their needs in both men’s and women’s football. The goal is to cover every aspect of development, including Division 1 and Division 2 structures,” he said.
Rathari added that regions may apply for up to P100,000 each, with allocations expected to be spread across categories like women’s football and youth programs. So far, P1 million has been set aside for this regional funding pool.
President Babitseng has long stressed the importance of financial discipline in football governance, especially regarding international funding from FIFA and CAF. “We receive funding from FIFA and CAF for football development, and we must make sure that money is used effectively,” he said.
The Impact Programme reinforces this principle with strict accountability measures, including dedicated accounts for each funding category and phased disbursements – 40 percent upfront, followed by 30 percent at subsequent stages, contingent on compliance and reporting.
One of the reform’s cornerstones is the introduction of the U21 Community Football Programme, designed to bridge the long-standing gap between school-level and senior football. This initiative will keep young players from communities, villages, and academies within structured development pathways, addressing concerns over talent loss during this critical transition.
The program also plans to establish Regional Technical Centres nationwide, serving as hubs for training, coaching education, and player development. These centers aim to bolster technical capacity at the regional level while improving scouting and talent identification.
These reforms come as Botswana’s football ambitions grow, including a potential joint bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations alongside South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Developing infrastructure and clear player pathways is crucial to positioning Botswana as a credible host and competitive football nation.
Babitseng has argued that Botswana must seize this moment to elevate its football profile. “We have to take advantage of this opportunity to show the world that we are capable,” he said.
Beyond infrastructure and funding, the Impact Programme also introduces a Regional Performance Index to measure output and compliance across all RFAs. Performance will now directly influence funding, creating a system where accountability and results go hand in hand.
The inclusion of dedicated provisions for women’s football has been welcomed as a long-overdue step to address historic disparities in investment and support. If fully realized, the BFA Impact Programme promises to reshape football administration in Botswana, shifting the focus from centralized control to a performance-driven, regionally empowered future.