BFA calls out KBL
Botswana Football Association (BFA), the custodians of football in the country, are set to engage Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) over a proposed Sunday Soccer league and a bubble burst to the initial excitement about the league is on the cards.
Earlier this week, KBL alongside Carling Black label officially launched the Carling Black Label Sunday Soccer League as the local beverages manufacturer looks to leverage on the rapid growth of Sunday Soccer space in the country and the final is projected to be held at the national stadium. In recent times, KBL has been closely linked with possibilities of sponsoring the local top tier league but the move did not materialize.
FNB Botswana have come on board to sponsor the Botswana Football League (BFL) in the coming season and there were reports that other properties of the league, including the Top 8 competition and the Charity Cup, who remain without a sponsor could be given to KBL.
This publication has learnt that the BFA are looking into the developments of the Sunday Soccer League, particularly its structures and operations, with the possibility that the developments could be brought to an abrupt end.
The Carling Black Label Sunday Soccer League will be played in three stages of trade promotions in eer outlets, at regional tournaments and at a grand finalle in Gaborone, which the champion will emerge with a trophy and P75 000 prize money, together with the top 10 getting not less than P5000 each, respectively.
“Any organized tournament [football] must be run under the banner of BFA. We are still studying the model of the competition and we will take it from there,” the BFA Chief Executive Officer, Mfolo Edwin Mfolo told this publication when contacted concerning the developments.
“We will ultimately have to engage them, we cannot let it go off like that, this is football and they are playing for money,” Mfolo added.
Mfolo went further to highlight some key issues that needs to be addressed before the tournament can see light of day, including health safety measures and officiating.
“Who are their referees, if anyone suffers a cardiac arrest there [during the games] who will be answerable. There are so many questions which must be answered. It is not only about, ‘we sponsor where we derive value',” Mfolo concluded.
Another BFA official, speaking under protection of anonymity had this to say:
"We are aware of the latest developments as reported in the media. As BFA, we have tried to engage KBL on the matter. But the latest events are proof enough that KBL has not been listening to our suggestions. It is not enough for KBL to say they are only involved in sponsoring social football. By the way, it is not the KBL money that we are after. Our objective was to advise KBL on how best to be involved in football," The BFA official continued: "Football is our mandate, and we believe we are best placed to advise other potential players on how best to get involved.
As a matter of fact, BFA mandate in football extends to what KBL is trying to do. That is provided for in our Constitution. It remains one of our objectives as BFA to use football to fight all forms of abuse including gender based violence and sexual abuse," he said. "We have structures in place to do so. It is in that context that we will continue to engage KBL so that hopefully they come around and appreciate that it is not just the money aspect that is important in football. We are encouraged by the knowledge that KBL has a big brand that is sensitive to all these issues."
There has been contrasting opinions about the move by KBL and Carling Black Label’s move, as some quarters are arguing that the competition could become a threat to mainstream football and possibly affect football developments particularly at regional level.
Local journalist at BOPA, Manowe Motsaathebe took to social media and opined that, “Kgalagadi Breweries Limited - KBL is giving back to the very people who make Black Label sales soar (that's if they are). I suspect they chose social football because that's where their product is consumed, especially the quart.
"And through this social soccer sponsorship, KBL is simply appreciating the customers who make them stay in business. I bet FNBB is also calling on, if not hoping for, mainstream football lovers to take to their services in large numbers and consume as many of their products as they can to boost FNBB business. Why should it cause a stir that KBL went the social soccer route. I bet social soccer isn't disruptive to mainstream soccer. And we can't tell KBL where to look,” part of his statements read.