Five clubs which had failed to get licences to play in the Botswana Premier League’s 2022–2023 season have managed to make the grade after a second attempt.
Mogoditshane Fighters, Extension Gunners, Morupule Wanderers, Eleven Angels, and Masitaoka were the sides that had failed the Club Licensing test. The first attempt ended in tears as the First Instance Body (FIB) and then the Appeals Body rejected their applications. However, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) requested the FIB to review their cases. The review process began on Wednesday and Thursday it was reported the sides had passed the test.
This means the clubs have obtained the licence to participate in the new season, whose start date has not been set. Gunners failed the test as they owed former staff, while Wanderers did not have a treasurer with the required qualifications.
Angels did not submit anything on their development side and had no office, while Masitaoka did not have a qualified coach.
Fighters did not meet requirements with regard to their coach. Eleven Angels took to their Facebook page to celebrate the ‘achievement’. "Eleven Angels FC has been granted a license to compete in the 2022-2023 Botswana Premier league season. To our supporters and well-wishers, re leboga go menagane,” reads the Facebook post.
The conclusion of the cases paves way for the start of the 2022-2023 season although authorities are still to announce sponsorship deals after the last campaign was played without a title sponsor.
Meanwhile, Rollers won their case against the Botswana Football League (BFL) which was brought before the appeals board after the club was accused of using a defaulter, Onkarabile Ratanang. Rollers were initially fined P15,000 but the BFL appealed the decision, which has since been dismissed.
