Cold derby exposes drop in standards

Mqondisi Dube | Monday May 22, 2023 16:00

The intensity on the pitch was missing, leading to one fan quizzing, ‘ga e fele?’ as he yearned for the end of the prolonged torture which unfolded in painful slow motion right in front of his eyes.

Was it really Gaborone United and Township Rollers on display at the Lobatse Sports Complex on Saturday, or it was some lighter version of the two illustrious opponents? To be fair to the teams, there was nothing much to play for, but still a Gaborone derby should be a battle of attrition, with or nothing to play for. Admittedly, I have not been attending a lot of Premier League matches this season, but what I saw during the Gaborone derby played in Lobatse, was a clear message I did not miss much.

The First Division South battles were more enthralling compared to what the Premier League’s headline fixture offered. Instead of being fixated with the action on the Lobatse Sports Complex turf, I could not help but let my mind wonder to the ‘good old days’ as the hands of time turned back. The period around 2009 was the most sparkling and one cannot help but reminisce in the middle of today’s mediocrity. Who will forget the last day epic between Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United in May 2009? The Molepolole Sports Complex was bursting at the seams long before kick-off. The branding was on point and this was replicated by the action on the pitch, which resembled a non-stop, thrill-a-minute action movie.

Back then, I found it gratifying to make the trip to Lobatse to watch Gunners on a Friday, the following day, I would be at the UB Stadium to feast on whatever Premier League action was there. On Sunday you would find me in Molepolole to round-up the weekend action. There was every reason for a fan to crisscross stadia to consume the best of local football.

But the same cannot be said of what is unfolding right now. There is lethargy across; from administration right to the players’ zeal. What will it take to ignite the fire? Newly appointed Botswana Football League chief executive officer, Senzo Mbatha expressed concern over fans’ numbers at match venues. He said the immediate priority was to pull the fans back to the stadiums. But this is easier said than done, right? There are competitions the Premier League is running to give away free tickets to matches, but still people are staying home. Why? I argued with a colleague that probably even if the Gaborone derby offered free entry, the stadium was not going to be full.

The standards have fallen. The first step towards addressing a problem is to acknowledge that there is a problem in the first place. The BFL has some serious repair work to do ahead of next season, a season that will be without a crowd puller in Extension Gunners. The First Division South has been pulling crowds, and it is expected to only get better next season.

What has the BFL has in store to arrest the slide? Cash should be injected without even engaging in debate. In 2009, the Premier League champions received a P1million winners’ cheque. Fast forward to more than a decade later, the winners go home with P750,000. Let football stakeholders go back to the crossroads and get their act right before the Premier League ceases to be a relevant product.