10 Jul 2016

Botswana Coca Cola Company is impressed with how COPA Coca Cola tournament had progressed since penning down a three year contract with Botswana Integrated Sports association (BISA). 

With their sponsorship contract coming to an end this year, company’s operations marketing manager, Moitshepi Sefako said they were happy with how the tournament had grown over the period of the sponsorship deal tenure. 

“Three years ago, we got in a sponsorship agreement with BISA and the deal was in line with our objectives of developing grass roots football specifically with the under 15 boys and girls,” he said. 

Sefako said the tournament had shown a great deal each year, especially this year where a lot of support from supporters who attended the event was observed. 

He explained that previously they were engaged in sponsoring league tournaments, however later decided to focus on development. He said initially they intended to sponsor with an epicenter of under 15s but eventually added under 17 youth due to interest from their partners Kgalagadi breweries. 

Since then, he said, the tournament had grown and showed some improvement on yearly basis. However, he said a team of players from the tournament were sent to South Africa to take part in an eight nation competition. He said this year; they had seen two boys being selected for a training camp in France which alone added to achievements of the tournament. 

For his part, BISA president Joshua Gaotlhobogwe said the previous events had never been colourful as this years’ edition. He credited the company for a good marketing they had carried out to make sure it stands out. 

He further noted that Copa Coca cola had immensely contributed to the development of football in Botswana, adding that some of the players who were identified from the tournament had since been called up for the national under 17 team. 

Gaotlhobogwe also said for the two boys to be called up to take part in the France training, it spells success both to BISA and Coca Cola. 

He expressed confidence that with the success they had before, they were hopeful that the company would see it fit to renew the sponsorship to further develop football in Botswana. ENDS