For the first time in months, football found itself removed from the usual dose of controversy as the game's family rallied in unison to welcome the new title sponsor, the First National Bank Botswana in style. Proof was littered all over the National Stadium from the pitch to the stands that football is still the dearly loved sport that it should. It has lost none of its touch provided those given the baton to administer it do a proper and thorough job. The first week of the league was almost seamless with the new sponsor given visibility at the various venues scattered across the land. This pattern should continue, if not intensify as the league progresses. Just hours before kick-off, the prize money breakdown was released and from nothing, certainly the figures are something. The winners will take home P1.4million, we know that this figure could be better had it not been for some barren years that hit the league since the departure of the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC). All clubs will receive P250, 000 as grants while the prize money for the individual awards has been released.
This is the sort of progress that we want to see at the Botswana Football League (BPL). Actually, this is the bare minimum. Going forward, there should be minimum fixture disruption as we assume that a lot of planning went into the schedule. FNB came into football when it was least fashionable and they therefore, deserve to be pampered. The only way to do so is through a well organised league reminiscent of the beMOBILE sponsored league of the 2009 and beyond. It is not difficult. The only thing that is difficult is politicians who are elected to run football. There is a lot of meddling such that technocrats are left with very little leg room to maneuover. We hope that we are witnessing a new chapter and a game re-born. Football has plumbed the depths and it cannot get worse. Let us now see this organisation being transferred to the mother body, the Botswana Football Association (BFA).
The BFA is fresh from electing a new leadership and there would be teething problems, but we do not expect the game to nose dive further. Football has suffered enough toxicity that it needs to move forward. Those who were elected into office were the people's choice and that has to be respected. They need to be afforded sufficient support and the nation does not deserve news of Zebras being stuck in some far away places, allegedly due to sabotage or mismanagement. Let things be done right henceforth; it can only get better.
