The Botswana Football Association (BFA) development drive received a boost this week, with Choppies Botswana coming on board with a three-year sponsorship deal worth P5.2 million.
The deal is for Under-15 and Under-17 competitions across all the BFA regions with the tournament known as the Choppies Cup. Speaking at the launch of the sponsorship on Tuesday, Choppies CEO, Ramachandran Ottapathu, said the P5, 250, 000 partnership with the BFA is key to nurturing talent. "We believe that supporting talent development is critical and we are committed to ensuring football development progresses in a suitable manner," Ottapathu said. "Youth development is integral to fostering teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills. By supporting this programme, Choppies Botswana aims to make a positive impact on the lives of young athletes and the broader community. By investing in football, we hope to inspire and develop future leaders both on and off the field," he added.
The BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti, said the partnership is proof of Choppies' commitment to football development. "By this sponsorship, Choppies is showing a willingness to take the lead and show how it is done all over the world. The world over, football is sponsored, not by governments, but by the private sector," Letshwiti said. He further said there is real value to be gained by companies that associate with football as the sport has a large following. "Whether you are talking about the young or the old, men or women, rural or urban, poor or rich, the passion and following for football is always strong," he said.
