COSAFA builds off-pitch legacy at CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifier

COSAFA builds off-pitch legacy at CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifier

COSAFA will once again use one of its flagship tournaments to build capacity away from the field of play with a comprehensive programme of workshops around the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026 in Gaborone. The regional qualifier will be staged from August 20-29, but the off-pitch programme gets under way five days earlier and runs through to August 28, providing opportunities for referees, medical personnel, safety and security officials, safeguarding practitioners, general coordinators and scouts to enhance their skills. The programme begins with a Referees Workshop from August 15-19, which will be facilitated by Fransiska Katjaimo, as COSAFA continues its commitment to the development of match officials across the region. That will be followed by a Safety and Security Briefing on August 18, with Kgotso Motaung as facilitator. The session will focus on an important area of tournament organisation and ensuring the safe delivery of matches and related activities. Medical personnel will also form a key part of the programme. A Medical Workshop for team doctors is scheduled for August 19-20 and will be facilitated by Dr Thulani Ngwenya. Dr Ngwenya will return to lead a second medical initiative, this time aimed at local medical personnel, with a half-day workshop planned. There will also be a half-day Safeguarding Workshop on August 19 for local clubs and school educators, facilitated by Nobuhle Masuku. Safeguarding remains an important pillar in creating a safe and positive environment for young players and all participants in the game. One of the major legacy initiatives will be the General Coordinators Workshop from August 23-25, which will be facilitated by experienced Namibian football administrator Titus Kunamuene. Kunamuene has extensive experience as a general coordinator in African football, has worked at CAF competitions including the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations and has served as Head of Competitions at the Namibia Football Association. The three-day workshop will involve 30 participants from Botswana, who will gain practical insight into the role of a general coordinator at an international football event. The off-pitch programme concludes with a four-day International Professional Scouting Organisation (IPSO) Workshop from August 25-28. The final day will include a practical component at the Dinaledi Academy. The workshop will cater for 20 participants and focus on professional scouting, talent identification, recruitment and match analysis. Its aim is to strengthen scouting best practices in Botswana and help ensure talented young boys and girls have the best possible opportunity to be identified. The programme again underlines COSAFA’s commitment to ensuring its tournaments leave a lasting legacy in host countries, with the development of skills and expertise away from the pitch an important complement to the competition itself.