Botswana National Under-20 coach Jacqueline Gaobinelwe is to lead The Mares side at this year’s COSAFA Women’s Championship, to be staged in Nelson Mandela Bay from July 31-August 11.

This comes after Botswana Football Association has decided to have a more youthful side representing the country at the tournament.

Gaobinelwe will use most of her Under-20 players, mixed with a few of experienced senior players. Most of the young players featured in 2017 Under-17 World Cup qualifiers and at the 2018 Region 5 tournament.

In what is seen as reviving the camp, the experienced duo of Kefilwe Cobra Lentswe and Tlamelo Osolyf Rametlae have received their overdue call-ups. They have been performing well in the local league, but not called for senior national team camps in the past.

The team is now in full training camp as they are doing their final preparations for COSAFA. Gaobinelwe is confident of reaching the semi-finals despite using a younger team.

The Mares are in Group B and have been pitted up against Mauritius, Namibia and Zambia. Their first game will be against Namibia on August 1 at Wolfson Stadium.

The game will be more interesting as Brave Gladiators will be seeking for revenge after Botswana knocked them out in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifiers earlier this year.

Botswana Squad

Goalkeepers: Gloria Moeng, Bame Mokime, Tebogo Lesego

Defenders: Kgomotso Molefhe, Basego Sembuwa, Tebatso Pilane, Theo Keselebale, Marriam Ramotserere, Godiramang Gonae, Kaone Kgokong

Midfielders: Keitumetse Dithebe, Esalenna Galekhutle, Kefilwe Lentswe, Letso Botlhale, Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse, Lone Gaofetoge, Keitumetse Dithebe

Strikers: Michelle Abueng, Mokgabo Thanda, Tshegofhatso Mosotho