BFL confident of league sponsorship

The Botswana Football League Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Ramochotlhwane has expressed optimism that the league will have sponsors and announced some will be announced before the league starts on the 10th of September.

Confident Ramochotlhwane said they are currently in talks with several companies for partnerships and possibilities of becoming partners to run the local league.

“We are currently in talks with multiple possible partners and sponsors and be rest assured that alcohol and entertainment will be at our stadiums.

Alcohol has been allowed at the games but there was no official comment to that effect, we are set to launch some of the developments on the 14th of next month. All our multiple partners, before the season starts, will be launched and there is quite a few of them,” Ramochotlhwane revealed.

Ahead of the just ended season, there were some quotes from the BFL constitution which entailed that for the league to start, there has to be at least P15 million in the coffers of the league.

The BFL CEO is confident that the said clause would not be a hindrance to start the league as he believes that the funds will be sourced and well in time.

He further revealed that their plan is to have an increase on the current championship prize money, for almost a decade now, the local league champions have been walking away with at least P1 million and expectations are that there will be an increase this coming season.

“Our intentions is to realign our prize money structure and we are hopeful with the current progress of our negotiations. Our championship prize money has been P1 million for a long time now,” he said.

Last year Botswana Television acquired the broadcast rights of the league at a reported tune of P7 million pula and Ramochotlhwane has revealed that they are also currently in negotiations with the national broadcasters, alongside other two international broadcasters.

Ahead of the just ended football season, there were reports that Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) were keen to splash at least P30 million into the local league spanning over a period of three (3) years, with each season receiving P10 million.

Latest reports are that engagements with the company are well underway.

One of the terms of reference in the proposed contract being discussed is that, the alcohol levy rate reduction by the relevant authorities could catalyze negotiations to wrap up a deal.

Absa bank, who gave the BFL at least P3 million last season and were the main sponsors of the league awards, are also reportedly keen on becoming the title sponsors of the league and officials of the local top tier league are also engaging with Absa officials for a possible deal.

Usually, Botswana Football Association, through its subsidiaries, struggles to keep sponsors, and attracting new ones has been nothing short of a mammoth task for those running football offices.

Mascom has since announced that they will not be hosting the Mascom Top-8 Tournament for the 2022 Season due to business fundamentals and economic constraints.

The mobile giants had previously made commitment with the Botswana Football League (BFL) that they will sponsor the tournament this year.

The just ended league campaign had no title sponsor and there were expectations that the upcoming season will have a title sponsor but efforts to lure one is proving to be an uphill battle at the moment.

The current raging battle between Botswana Football Association (BFA), BFL and Township Rollers FC over the registration status of Onkarabile Ratanang have all but led the local game to the lowest of lows.

The current hostile environment is viewed by close observers as a great deterrent to attract sponsors to the local football fraternity.

The BFL is expected to kick-start on the 10th of September 2022, and local clubs are currently in intense pre-season trainings getting ready for what is expected to be an enthralling football campaign.