Consumption at soccer matches was outlawed around 2009, with the government also banning alcohol companies from sponsoring sport.
However, the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chief executive officer (CEO), Tuelo Serufho indicated the ban on sponsorship has since been lifted.
“Companies that trade in alcohol can now sponsor sport as the ban that was imposed in the past got lifted a while back,” he said.
Serufho said talks on the lifting of a ban on the sale and consumption at match venues are ongoing. “What is currently being restricted is alcohol sale and consumption at competition venues but it’s a matter we are looking into; with a view to try and find a win-win solution; for sport entities, their sponsors in the sectors and traders,” Serufho said.
For football, BFL CEO, Solomon Ramochotlhwane said the intention is to introduce alcohol sales at stadiums this season. “We are working with stakeholders BNSC, by-laws to make sure we introduce that this coming season,” Ramochotlhwane said. For his part, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) CEO, Mfolo Mfolo said they had not explored the sale of alcohol at match venues.
“We have not yet explored that space,” he said. Equally, he said there has been no progress in talking to sponsorship companies. “We have not yet but it is one area we are considering. We cannot close it out since marketing and commercial is one of our priority areas,” Mfolo said.
Meanwhile, the BFA head of competitions and operations, Olebile Matlapeng-Sikwane is in Cairo, Egypt to attend a Club Licensing workshop which started on Wednesday and ends today.
According to a statement from the BFA, the workshop objectives amongst others are to drill and equip Club Licensing managers across Africa on various aspects of club licensing regulatory framework, online checks and compliance, and also engage in inter-club competitions framework for competitions. “The course participants will look at key areas of CAF Men’s Club Licensing regulations, CAF Women’s Club Licensing regulations, CAF Catalogue of Sanctions, CAF Club Licensing Quality Standard,” reads the statement. Sikwane will join BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti who is attending the workshop as a member of the CAF Inter-Club Organising Committee for Inter Clubs Competitions and Club Licensing Management System. The two are expected back home tomorrow.
