Head Coach of Botswana’s Gaborone United Ladies, William Monene, says they will use last year’s heartbreak as motivation when they compete in the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier next later this month.
The 2024/2025 Botswana Women’s Championship winners return for the second time in a row to battle it out with nine other teams for a spot in the continental finals which will be played towards the end of the year in Algeria.
Gaborone United Ladies made their debut in the regional tournament in 2024 in Malawi, sailing through to the final without defeat.
Their journey started with a 1-1 draw against Mozambique’s UD Lichinga, followed by the same result against Young Buffaloes of Eswatini and the Botswana outfit moved to the top of the group with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over hosts Ascent Soccer Academy – giving them passage to the knockout stages.
They brushed aside Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe 1-0 in the semi-final but went down 8-9 on penalties to South Africa’s University of the Western Cape (UWC) after a 1-1 stalemate at the end of regulation time.
The Capetonians made history by being the first university team to not only play and win the regional competition but to also feature in a CAF Women’s Champions League, where they joined defending champions and two time winners, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
But both failed to get out of their respective groups.
For Gaborone United, it was a case of so near yet so far, but they have vowed to use the experience as their weapon when the regional competition kicks off.
They have been drawn in Group B alongside Young Buffaloes and debutants Kick4Life from Lesotho.
“It’s a tricky group, familiar foes in Buffaloes and the unknown danger of debutants, but we take 2024’s heartbreak as the motivation for 2025,” said Monene from Botswana.
Their only challenge at the moment is that their league is recess but they are not resting on their laurels and have been busy preparing for the upcoming tournament. Ideally they would have loved to be active like most teams that will be taking part in the competition which will be held from 22-31 August 2025. The Botswana Women’s League will only kick off afterwards.
But the Red Roses have not been resting on their laurels, arranging various friendly games to get ready for battle.
Just recently, they defeated Mafikeng Ladies 8-0 in the one encounter and brushed aside North West University 4-2 in the other.
CentreCircle.online got in touch with Monene who last month signed a two-year contract extension with Gaborone United Ladies. The former Double Action and Red Roses coach in Botswana had this to say.
Congratulations on winning back to back league titles, this means the team is doing something right. What does this achievement mean?
Back-to-back titles prove we’re building something special at Gaborone United Ladies.
You carry the flag of Botswana in the upcoming COSAFA qualifiers – are you feeling any pressure?
Pressure? Yes. But it’s the kind that pushes you to give your best for your country.
How much will the experience of Malawi help the team for the upcoming edition?
Malawi gave us priceless lessons on resilience, focus, and adapting to any challenge.
Do you still have the same team that went to Malawi and did so well – or are there changes? If yes, will they affect the team?
Our core remains, with a few new faces to make us even stronger.
With the tournament fast approaching, how do you prepare your team to forget about the disappointment of 2024 and focus on the new challenge?
2024’s heartbreak is now 2025’s motivation.
You lost a nail-biter against UWC in the final on penalties – does it still play in your mind? What lessons were learnt to take into the 2025 tournament?
That final still stings but it taught us to be ruthless in big moments.
With the Botswana Women’s Champions League in recess – does that not work in your disadvantage and how will you get the team ready for the tournament?
No league games? We are creating our own rhythm with friendlies and tough training.
Looking at the draw, what are your thoughts? You played to a stalemate against Young Buffaloes in 2024 and you face them again, and there is also a debutant in your group.
It’s a tricky group, familiar foes in Buffaloes and the unknown danger of debutants.
Should you get out of your group, you still have other teams to contend with, the likes of two-time champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (if they also get out of their group) – have you thought that far?
We’re not looking past the group, but we know giants await if we progress.
What does playing in this tournament do for Botswana football (for the league or perhaps for the national team) and also for the region?
This tournament lifts women’s football for our league, our national team, and the region.
What will it mean for Gaborone United Ladies to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League?
Qualifying for the CAF Champions League would be history in the making.
The 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers will be held at the UJ AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg.
Gaborone United Ladies open their account with a fixture against Young Buffaloes on Saturday, 23 August and will face Kick4Life four days later (Wednesday, 27 August).
Only the top side team in each group will progress to the semi-finals along with the best runner-up.
The last team standing will represent the COSAFA region at the CAF Women’s Champions League.
By Matlhomola Morake
