Gaborone United director Nicolas Zakhem has recently just arrived from Morocco where the finals of Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) are currently ongoing and he has been impressed.

Inspired by the recent growing trend of women football in the continent, Zakhem on Tuesday during a press briefing, announced that Gaborone United ladies team will not be left behind in the developments and future success prospects of the club.

Whilst the male team clinched the Botswana Football League (BFL) title this season, the female team were also crowned champions after winning the Gaborone Central Regional Football division 2 league and will now compete in the region’s top flight women football league.

“I personally have put interest in this team [ladies team], in the last five (5), six (6) months I have watched many games of women football, whether Rollers or Double Action playing, I have been watching. For us, ladies team is going to be as more important as men’s football team,” Zakhem said.

One of CAF’s club licensing manual requires clubs to have ladies football team for them to be able to compete in CAF competitions.

The BFA club licensing office has also maintained a strong stance on the development of the women game and all top flight teams are required to have ladies football teams as part of the club licensing requirement.

Gaborone United will this coming season compete in the CAF champion’s league and the club’s leadership are cognizant of what is required of them to partake in the competition.

“Part of the criteria for one to obtain a license to play in the Premier League level or CAF competition, there is a need to have a ladies team, it is a prerequisite. There are two prerequisites, the development side and the ladies team, we are known for development and we have all these,” the Money Machine director outlined.

“We cannot have a strong male team winning the championships whilst the ladies team struggle in the lower divisions, not having proper care and treatment—this is not acceptable. We have to practice gender equality, both our team must be strong, they have to be equal. We are not saying they should be the champions but they have to be close, they have to compete for titles, we will spend well in both these teams,” Zakhem added.

According close sources, there are already plans in place to attract some of the local women’s football top talents to join Gaborone United ladies team and talks with some of the officials of other clubs have been notified of the Reds’ interests.

Sources further revealed that there will be good remunerations for the players, with tempting offers which will be difficult for most to resist.

Most of the teams in top local women football league are not paid but Gaborone United and Nicolas Zakhem are looking to be game changers.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe recently announced significant increment prizes for the WAFCON finals and the Women’s Club Champions League is also set to receive increase in the championship prizes.