The league was forced into a lengthy delay mainly due to failure to secure sponsors.
Yesterday, the Botswana Football League (BFL) announced a P25 million broadcast sponsorship deal with the national broadcaster, the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS).
The deal is for three years and the BFL has allocated P7 million for the 2022-2023 season, and P8 million for the next two seasons. “We have finalised an agreement with the Btv.
As far as the signing of the contract, it has not been done because the authorising signatory is out of the country but he is returning on Monday so maybe on Tuesday we will sign this agreement,” BFL board member, Jagdish Shah said during a press briefing.
He further said the league office has failed to secure a title sponsor after a proposed deal with brewer, Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) fell through. However, the BFL has managed to secure the P6 million needed to operate for a full season.
Despite the eight-figure amount from the DBS, Shah could not promise grants and prize money for this season. “As far as the financial position of the league is concerned, we are ready to go ahead and launch this season.
The budget expenses of running the league for the whole season are about P6 million. We have P6 million available hence why we are confident about the running and conclusion of the league and there will not be any hindrances and complaints. From FIFA, they gave us money last year and there is a balance of P2 million available to us.
From the other money from last year, we have a balance of around P1 million in our account and now P3 million from Btv. “We have already communicated that for now, we do not have the grants or the prize money.
However, this is not cast in stone because we have been making an effort and there are those still open to sponsoring. So we might be able to get some money and after the first round, Btv will pay the other P4 million so as of now we have P10 million and as I said there are commercial proprieties and aspects available from the Btv deal,” Shah said. He said the total amount of prize money as per the previous sponsorship agreement amounts to P3.5 million and the BFL could use the remaining P4 million from BTV's initial P7 million.
Shah added that the BFL has come into an agreement with the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) for the first round of the games that clubs will not be charged stadium fees. This, as Shah said, will ease the financial woes of the clubs, as previously 25% of the gate takings were used to pay for the stadium. There is also a proposal with KBL to sell alcohol on match days.
With some cash in the BFL coffers, the teams will begin their battle on the field tomorrow afternoon. Reigning champions, Gaborone United open their season against BDF XI at the Lobatse Sports Complex in the afternoon.
Newbies Eleven Angels welcome Morupule Wanderers at the Obed Itani Chilume stadium. Nico United face Sua Flamingoes at the Sam Sono Stadium. In the evening, Holy Ghost travel to Jwaneng for their league debut where Jwaneng Galaxy lie in wait while Orapa United will host Masitaoka.
On Sunday afternoon, Township Rollers face Mogoditshane Fighters at the Molepolole Sports Complex while Prisons XI are home to Security Systems at the Lobatse Sports Complex. Extension Gunners will begin their campaign against Police XI at the Otse Stadium. The afternoon games will kick off at 4pm while the evening games will start at 7pm.
