INDOMITABLE DOUBLE ACTION

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Ludo Chube

Location : Gaborone

Event : AT & T womenÔÇÖs league

 

“In fact we can count on one hand the number of games we have lost,” boasts coach, Agreement Podi, confidently. It is not hard to see why. Double Action are this year’s AT & T women’s league champions for the second year running.

Their stellar performance every other season notwithstanding, is an intriguing tale of survival of the fittest and keeping dreams alive with such amazing verve. Formed in 1995, the club is Senki Sesinyi’s brainchild. He is currently its managing director. Podi would join him two years later to serve as coach and technical director. Sesinyi’s grand idea of establishing a women’s football team, which was unheard of at the time, was conceived after he watched an international women’s game between Brazil and Germany.

“At the time we founded and formed a lot of women’s football clubs around Gaborone,”  he says. A total of eight teams were formed, among them Double Action based at Broadhurst’s Extention 27. In fact, Double Action would be the first women’s football club to be registered in Botswana. Things looked promising as people responded with unparalleled enthusiasm and excitement.

However, such did not catch up in the corporate world hence there was very little sponsorship and it was not long before morale started dissipating. Interest also started waning and just like they had sprung out, the teams began to disintegrate and disappear into oblivion one by one. Conversely, it was not the case with Double Action who managed to weather the storm and continued to keep the fire burning. It was not easy though. For several years the women’s league remained in limbo as clubs embarked on an indefinite boycott of games, citing numerous grievances. Double Action carried on as if nothing was wrong.

They became a team to reckon with, winning almost everything. A statement on the team’s website states that among Double Action’s numerous achievements is the fact that the club was crowned league champions for eight consecutive seasons, from 1999 to date. It has thus far won every tournament or cup it participated in.

Sesinyi attributes such outstanding performance to sound management. “To achieve the best with the players you have, I believe you need good management,” shares Sesinyi.

Podi concurs, adding that relatively coaching women is a bit of a challenge because they are wired differently especially on the emotional front hence one has to be always accommodative. “Women love to be showered with tender loving care and as such ba kgona go ipetola,” quips Podi jokingly. However, he says he always maintains a firm hand whenever business calls.

“As someone with an army background, I have instilled in my players, values such as discipline and valour to give them a different mindset whenever they are on the field,” Podi shares. Even coaching such a successful team has its low moments. One that comes to mind is when they lost to Meat Girls in the Pro Guard Cup last year. They were caught off guard and suffered humiliation as they tasted defeat for the first time in a very long time. “It was one of our biggest upsets and since then I ensure that I plan thoroughly before any game irrespective of how I personally rate the team I’m playing against.” The Meat Girls went on to win the cup.

Meanwhile, Double Action boast 26-year old Bonang “Bebeto” Otlhagile who joined them in 1997 when she was only 11 years old. After 15 years, Bebeto has proved to be invaluable but a pillar to the club. Just last year she was loaned to a Zimbabwean football club - Zimbabwe Inline Academy. “To me Double Action is more than a club, it is a family. It is home,” she says.

Incidentally, Bebeto has had to contend with the typical stereotypes associated with women footballers such as the perceptions that they cannot conceive.  It seems she had the last laugh as she is a proud mother of a six-year old. She has come full circle - from her days as a pre-teen, growing into a teenager, blossoming into womanhood and finally embracing the joys of motherhood.

At 26, she feels it is she hung her boots. “I wanted to retire this year but my team talked me into staying a bit longer. If something better comes up I’d be willing to stay on for two or more years.” The team’s captain Kgomotso “Apache” Melefe says they now have their eyes set on retaining their title next season. Meanwhile, Sesinyi, who is also current chairman of the women’s football league, is upbeat that the future for women’s football looks bright. “The new committee for women’s football is very passionate about marketing and taking women’s football to greater heights. And Botswana Football Association has also given us their word that they will do whatever possible to grow women’s football in Botswana,” says Sesinyi. ENDS

Teaser:

After bagging yet another league title  in the just ended women’s football season, Double Action are certainly indomitable. And they have maintained this impressive record - with dozens of wins and very few losses - for as long as they have existed...