BFA, Cresta sign accommodation deal
TSHEPO MOLWANE
Staff Writer
| Thursday August 7, 2008 00:00
Under the deal, clubs staying at the hotel will get a 50 percent discount on accommodation for 18 players, while seven officials will be accommodated for free.
Speaking at a media briefing at the President Hotel yesterday, BFA president Phillip Makgalemele said they are delighted with the deal. He pointed out that they were forced to negotiate an accommodation deal with Cresta Marakanelo after players and officials travelling back at night from Gaborone after games perished in a series of road accidents last year. Makgalemele told the briefing that he is confident that clubs will take advantage of the initiative and sleep at the Cresta Marakanelo hotels around the country to avoid travelling at night to and from games. 'I can assure you that BFA is delighted about the partnership especially with the 2010 World Cup coming as accommodation will be a major spin-off,' he said.
Cresta Marakanelo chief operating officer, Tawanda Mukaya said the deal they signed took over six months to seal. He said they jointly believe that the agreement will help reduce road accidents involving football players and officials. 'The BFA presented a case to us of the involvement of their members in road accidents due to night travel before or after football games. The BFA pointed out the financial constraints which are gripping their members,' he told the briefing.
He pointed out that this is not a once-off sponsorship but a long time relationship for the benefit of all BFA teams. 'We considered this proposal as part of our bigger responsibility to the community. You will be aware that in our community service outreach programmes, we contribute to the Masiela Trust Fund on an annual basis. In this regard, we agreed to take the BFA on board as our partners in developing football in Botswana,' said Mukaya.
The agreement comes days after BFA signed another deal with the South African Football Association (SAFA) to improve the standard of football in their jurisdictions, particularly in Botswana.