05 Oct 2016

Botswana Football Association (BFA) first division north executive committee has announced start of the 2016/17 north league.
Briefing the media in Francistown recently, executive committee chairperson, Mpezeni Sambandawe said the new season will kick off on Saturday with participation of 12 teams.
A double header will be played at launch at Francistown Sports Complex featuring Great North Tigers (GNT) versus Motlakase Power Dynamos at 3:30pm and Tafic vs Sua Flamingoes at 6pm.
He said, as part of finding alternative income, they would reveal companies partnering with them on Saturday, besides the main sponsor, Debswana.
Sambandawe thanked Debswana for its continued support towards sport, especially football and said they were looking forward to working with them for more years to come.
“We are happy to be partners with a leading company such as Debswana and we are eager to organise a successful league,” he said.
He further said the league would play a significant role in developing the future of football and specifically the performance of players.
Sambandawe said they were optimistic that the league could raise the standard of football if all stakeholders played their role.
He appealed to clubs to teach their supporters to refrain from using vulgar language and the bad attitude towards referees while at the games.
The chairperson added that such kind of behaviour was destroyed the value of football.
“The players have to be educated by their clubs so that they recognise the referees as the 23 third player in the field of play,” he added.
Sambandawe encouraged teams to communicate in terms of kits to avoid clashing of colours, which in turn often delayed matches.
Tafic gaffer, Blessing Moyo said he was ready for the league, noting that they were lucky to have had the privilege in participating in the just ended independence cup.
He said he had re-grouped a team of players, whose average years was 24-25 and are a mixture of young talent.
“With these boys, I have trust that Tafic will be playing in the elite league next season,” he added.
For his said his team was ready to compete, adding that their main sponsors, Botswana Ash wanted the team in the premiership league next season.
The secretary general of the league committee, Rapula Gaotlhobogwe wished all the participating teams a success in the league, adding they were ready to make the games run smoothly.
He added that tickets for the launch of the games would be sold at a cost price of P20 elsewhere and P30 for grand stand and could  be purchased at Shoprite. ENDS