06 Oct 2015

The Botswana football governing body is in a process to seal a deal with technical sponsor, All Kasi. This comes after the expiration of a three-year technical sponsorship contract between the Botswana Football Association (BFA) and Umbro in July.

The national team, Zebras, donned All Kasi during their games against Burkina Faso and Ethiopia last month.The firm is one of two that responded to a call for expression of interest issued by the BFA.

“We did not have a technical sponsor after July. The BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) then decided to go into the market to try and get a technical sponsor. When we played in Francistown, we decided to procure a kit. We sought quotations from local companies. 

That’s why the Zebras was wearing All-Kasi,” said BFA president Tebogo Sebego in an interview.

The clothing firm holds a special place in Zebras history. When Botswana qualified for AFCON 2012, All Kasi was the Zebras technical sponsor. Sebego said the BFA is currently in negotiations with All-Kasi. He said that the NEC is busy looking at the company’s proposal.

“Our desire is to finalise the deal this month,” he said. 

Football analyst, Jimmy George, said giving All Kasi another opportunity to dress the Zebras will clearly indicate growth of Botswana football. He said clinching the deal after a three year break comes with the assumption that the company has grown very well to be able to take on the big role of a technical sponsor.

He said foreign companies have a tendency of providing sub-standard apparel.

“I wish we could stick to local companies in future because no company from outside can capture the essence of nationalism more than the local brand,” he said

Furthermore, George said the nation relates well with the local brand, which translates into national pride.

 “I’m glad we have settled for the local brand. It is another way of selling our country. All Kasi understands Botswana colours. They understand the design that Batswana like,” he said.  

Zebras captain Joel Mogorosi endorsed All Kasi last month. He told BOPA that when Botswana made history in 2011 by qualifying for AFCON for the first time, the team’s apparel was the All Kasi brand. He argued that the All Kasi magic paid dividends against one of Africa’s power houses, Burkina-Faso, when they beat them 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying game.

According to Mogorosi, players and Batswana in general believe in the All Kasi brand. He said that the local brand would go into history books as the Zebras’ lucky charm.

“You see as players we want something that is very nice and gives us confidence. Players want to look good. What I can tell you is that we felt good in the All Kasi kit on Saturday,” said the elated Mogorosi. Ends