Zakhem calls for unity
Upbeat Botswana Football League chairman, Nicolas Zakhem has broken silence on the current state of football in the country as internal bickering continue to put the image of the game into shame. Zakhem, who is also the director of Gaborone United, told this publication that it does not sit well with him when the game is surrounded by negative publicity. He is of the view that local football administrators must collectively fight for a common goal to protect the integrity of the game. “We cannot be embarrassed every season,” he said.
The construction mogul makes reference at the manner events unfolded at Lekidi Football Center which led to suspensions of some individuals by the local football governing mother-body, Botswana Football Association (BFA). He is of the view that football alone has the potential to change lives of families in Botswana but the current state of some people in football leaves a lot to be desired.
“Some of us are paying players who have families, but we continue to disappoint them, we really have to be serious with how we act and react to situations, mind you, it is also our duty to protect the interests of sponsors,” he said. BFL has recently announced a three-year relationship with First National Bank of Botswana (FNBB) at a tune of 24.5 million. The finances will go straight to club administration, prize money as well as league administration. The Botswana Football League is a registered company whose main aim is to professionalize the domestic game.
Since its establishment in the year 2021, it is the first time the league managed to pull a sponsor that will definitely tilt the scales. Zakhem calls for unity and cooperation while confidently expressing optimism that more sponsors will be on board next season. “We have to stand together and rebuild this game with the cooperate world, it should not be about me or anyone, it is about the game itself, and I’m telling you, if we remain united, the many people we are talking with will soon arrive.”
It is interesting to see how the league will equally distribute the finances especially to do with the prize money. Already there are growing calls to inject most of the money into grants to enable clubs to be competitive. Others, however, are of the view that prize money is more important than anything else as it brings concentration and the needed attention to the game. Whatever route the league will take, excitement is building for the Botswana game.