Motsepe calls for improved financial investment

Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Saturday June 24, 2023 06:00

The congress was initially scheduled to take place in 2020 but had to be postponed due to COVID-19. It is the first time Botswana has hosted the congress through the local structure, Footballers Union of Botswana (FUB). Motsepe said one of the best investments Botswana and the rest of the continent can make is to look after young football players. He also said it is important to attract more sponsors and build partnerships with governments. “At the heart of that is to advance and promote the rights and interests of football players. Because when we do that we promote and advance the interests of the clubs, we promote and advance the interests of football club owners and all the stakeholders,” he said.

Motsepe also said Botswana should be proud to be a member of FIFPro, an organisation that exists to represent the interests and rights of professional football players in the world. Botswana is among the only 14 countries out of 54 on the continent that are members of FIFPro. “Fourteen countries in Africa are part of FIFPro. In Europe, 30 countries have FIFPro structures. We should also strive towards increasing the number to at least 30 in Africa. I will encourage all CAF members to become members of FIFPro,” he said. He said on the continent, the partnerships with the private sector and sponsorship of football are areas where there needs to be significant improvement. “Many of the clubs on the continent run on a negative cash flow so they are losing money, and they do not have income. That is why we should work together to put them in a position where they have more resources and you then realise that the football clubs that succeed are the ones that pay players well,” he said. He also said the quality of football on the continent cannot improve if the money in football is not increased. Motsepe also revealed that in October this year, the inaugural Africa Super League will commence.



He, however, said some of the big sponsors are saying the history of the Super League in Europe was not good. He said there are concerns that if they associate the word 'super' with a football competition, it will have negative connotations. He said they may have to change the name but said the competition will kick off in October. He said the objective is to ensure that there are more financial resources and more investment in football pitches, academies, and more money for players. He said the Super League will ensure there is more financial investment in football on the continent. “The prize money will be significantly high,” Motsepe said. FUB president, Onalethata Tshekiso said it is important to manage resources well in football, which will then enable players on the continent to do well.