Pabalinga Still Fishing - as he targets more corporate partners for Rollers
After securing a crucial financial lifeline through a headline-grabbing main sponsorship deal with Hope Tee Energy, Township Rollers Chairman, Thapelo 'Fish' Pabalinga has made it clear that the club's commercial drive is far from over. Having recently emerged from a period of severe financial distress and squad instability, Popa is deliberately shifting away from its past reliance on a single private investor, a model that left the Gaborone giants saddled with millions in inherited debt.
Pabalinga says that he is actively hunting for additional corporate, and in-kind partners to build a diversified financial foundation. By expanding the club’s commercial portfolio alongside existing partners like Bet267, Diadora, and Options Botswana, the leadership aims to permanently insulate the Blue Train from past vulnerabilities, clear legacy obligations, and establish a modern, self-sustaining football powerhouse. Township Rollers have officially announced a major multi-year main sponsorship deal with locally owned firm, Hope Tee Energy. The landmark deal, a P6 million commitment spread over three years at P2 million per season, signals not just financial relief, but the dawn of a structured, sustainable future.
This core sponsorship works hand-in-hand with additional financial backing, including a P2 million deal over two seasons from betting company Bet267, as well as crucial operational partnerships with brands like Diadora for kit supply, Options Botswana for official merchandise retail, and O3 for team hydration. While the mood around the camp is undeniably celebratory, Township Rollers Chairman Thapelo Pabalinga maintains a pragmatic, forward-looking stance. Acknowledging the financial lifeline provided by Hope Tee Energy and other partners, Pabalinga emphasized that the management team is far from finished in the commercial arena. 'Our ambition is clear. We want a stronger Township Rollers. A professionally run Township Rollers.
A competitive Township Rollers and a commercially sustainable Township Rollers,' Pabalinga stated. The financial turnaround is the first step in a broader blueprint outlined by the board. Once immediate debts are cleared and operational stability is guaranteed, Pabalinga noted that Rollers will shift focus toward long-term asset acquisition, including dedicated training facilities, team transportation, and eventually, their own mini-stadium. Transparency and governance are being positioned as the non-negotiable pillars of this new era.
To retain the trust of primary sponsors like Hope Tee Energy, Rollers' management has committed to strict accountability in every commercial transaction. Speaking during the recent launch, The Managing Director and founder of Hope Tee Energy, Hope Kontle fully committed to standing by the club. Recognizing the emotional and cultural weight Township Rollers carries across the nation, Kontle vowed to do everything necessary to ensure the club never struggles or falls into distress again. 'Township Rollers will never suffer again as long as we are here. I will do anything and everything in my power to ensure this team does not struggle or go back to the difficult times. This club carries the DNA and passion of our people, and as a lifelong supporter who grew up in these streets, I am committed to standing by Popa.
However, management and sponsors cannot do this alone. I urge all our blue-and-yellow faithful supporters to continue backing the team. Fill up the stadiums, buy the official merchandise, and keep giving this squad the energy they need on and off the pitch. Together, we are taking Township Rollers back to where it belongs,' he said.