Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - September 4, 2006
Players such as Paul Gascoigne have been invited to visit the south African nation to help educate the population about sexual health.
Like in most of Africa, the beautiful game is a religion in Botswana and its stars are revered as demi-gods.
Authorities believe the sport and its ambassadors are an effective communicating tool in getting the message across.
Botswana is a country the size of France but with a population of 1.8 million.
It has one of the continent's most stable economies thanks to its huge diamond resources and tourism sector.
But the population and the future of the nation itself are under threat from HIV/Aids.
One in three adults there is HIV positive or has Aids according to the UN.
Life expectancy is just 30-year-old and there are more than 60,000 children made homeless because of the virus.
Thanks to the country's wealth, Botswana has got one of the most advanced HIV treatment programmes in Africa.
Diverting resources
But the cost of treating so many patients is diverting resources away from the country's economic development programme.
Chris Molomo, Botswana's national Aids co-ordinator said the pandemic was more than a health problem.
"It's a developmental challenge," he told the World Service's World Football programme.
"Football is one of those sports in this country which is loved by everybody.
"They respect football and I believe that any message that comes through football would reach quite a lot of people."
The government of Botswana is promoting the game at every level as a means of keeping the nation healthy and as a vehicle for education.
Paul Gascoigne and former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence visited Botswana to promote the English Football Association's international charity work.
"Gazza was one of the great players in the English premier league," said Mr Molomo. "I think everyone would want to see him talk about HIV/Aids and people would listen.
"One of the things we want to do is use people like Paul Gascoigne as role models. I think he can be a role model even in this country."
Gascoigne visited a refuge for some 200 children abandoned or orphaned, many through Aids, run by charity SOS Children near the capital Gabarone.
"Football is the biggest sport in the world," he said. "If you can keep these kids interested and playing football and learning about HIV/Aids and using condoms, then the place will get better."
As part of the visit, the FA was also evaluating the suitability of Botswana as a potential base in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
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