01 Sep 2016

The BOT50 Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Francistown  has sponsored the city’s independence tournament at the tune of P54 500.

The tournament is expected to kick-off on September 3 and finish on independence day.

Speaking at the launch of the sponsorship, BOT50 LOC chairperson, Keabaabetswe Bogatsu said the sponsorship included P1 000 appearance fee for the 18 male soccer teams in Francistown, P10 000 first prize money, P4 500 and P2 500 second and third prize for the teams respectively as well as P500 appearance fee for five female teams, P5 000 first prize money, P3 500 and P1 500 second and third prize and administration fees for the games.

He noted that his committee wanted to see a legacy beyond September 30 in all sport codes, culture and arts as well as other sectors.

Francistown Regional Football Association (FRAFA) chairperson, Maokaneng Bontshetse urged the teams to take the tournament seriously and participate.

He explained that the BOT50 LOC sponsorship is only reserved for all the Francistown teams despite their different divisions. 

Bontshetse said the sponsorship will help create independence hype in the city.

He observed that in previous years, sponsors lost interest in the independence tournament due to lack of commitment from the teams.

On other issues, Bontshetse said FRAFA was in the process of rebranding and encouraged all teams to be part of the exercise.

Giving a word of encouragement, a football administrator, Setete Phuthego observed that football played a critical role in the history of the country as it assisted to bring together people of different tribes, political and religious affiliations.

He encouraged sport administrators to take it upon themselves to turn football professional. He also encouraged players to desist from discrediting football through the use of abusive language.

Phuthego implored footballers to unite and shy away from any issues that divide them. He said if teams are run properly, the business community will partner with them not out of charity, but because things are run professionally.

He called on all stakeholders in Francistown to work towards having a team in the premiership league next year, noting that it is disappointing that as the second city, it does not have a team in the league.

A former football star, Diphetogo Selolwane shared sentiments with Phuthego, adding that teams should utilise the existing resources such as the new sports complex to progress to the premiership league.

Proposing a vote of thanks, Ministry of Sport, Youth and Culture (MYSC) deputy district coordinator, Caiphus Kopelang thanked the leadership of FRAFA for acceding to the BOT50 LOC sponsorship.

He encouraged the teams to take the sponsorship seriously as they are lucky to be chosen out of the different sporting codes in the city. 

He further said the tournament is not about the prize money, but about celebrating 50 years of independence. ENDS