Mystery sponsor resurrects volleyball

The Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) national league is expected to commence next month (May), BVF Sports Development Officer Peaceful Seleka has revealed.

BVF is reported to have finally secured a league sponsor that is yet to be unveiled, more to that, BVF has already informed clubs to start preparing for the upcoming league. When reached for comment this week, Seleka confirmed the reports, “I can confirm that indeed we have signed a deal with one sponsor and we intend to make an announcement very soon. With that, the league will definitely happen this year,” Seleka said in an interview with Sun Sports.

Seleka revealed that they have since held a special congress meeting with BVF affiliates last week to inform them of the new development. He said it is their sincere hope that the teams will be ready to compete when the league commences, following a one-month notice from the Federation. Seleka remained cagey about the identity of the new sponsor, adding that they are not ready to divulge anything until the agreed dates between the sponsor and BVF. The federation failed to host the league in 2017 after the departure of their main sponsor Mascom Wireless, “It was not easy to secure the sponsorship and we had to up our game so that the unfortunate 2017 events does not happen again,” he said.

The inactivity at BVF threatened to set the sports code back following reports that some players had joined the controversial Constituency League. The moral was reported to be waning in many top clubs and coaches with coaches failing to motivate players who found no reason to attending training sessions. Coach Kabo Ntshinogang of Mafolofolo club said they are happy for the imminent league return. However, he said as defending champions, they have become weaker due to lack of activity. Meanwhile, Ntshinogang lost some of his key players like Tsholofelo Retshabile, Garesepe Mashaola and Gaolefeletse Gasekgonwe during the transfer window early this year. For now, the coach said his main aim is ensuring that his new players settle well in the team. “I opted for new faces instead of those already in the BVF structures and they will need time to get into the team, we will think about winning the title next year however we intend to compete,” Ntshinogang said.

For his part, Yaros coach Mmoloki Gaobone explained that the absence of the league was hard for his players who had resorted to abandoning training sessions. Gaobone said he is mostly working with young players and his biggest concern was that some of them will be dropped from the national team because they are not fit. Gaobone further said the one-month notice was not enough for a proper league preparation, however under the circumstances, they will make the best out of it. He anticipates a slow league start saying that players will come into in the game a bit rusty.