19 Oct 2016

Botswana National Olympic Committee president Negros Kgosietsile has called on all involved in local football management to ensure that sponsors get value for their money.
Speaking at a Mascom Top 8 tournament launch on October 19, he said it was now prudent for the Botswana Football Association president MacLean Letshwiti and his National Executive Committee to work as a team in ensuring that  sponsors got their reward for sponsoring local soccer.
He said if the leadership does not work as a unit, Mascom and other sponsors would not get the mileage that they want.
Kgosietsile said, “a sponsor does not want to be associated with controversy,” noting that Letshwiti was not a president by default as he was voted by football delegates.
“This pull them  down syndrome that has come to define our local sport should stop so that we derive the benefit of support we get from the sponsors,” he said.
“Mascom Top 8 is an annual event that excites everybody in sport and not only in football as it also excites the small business people,” he added.
The competition was entered on the basis of merit, given that the teams should finish in the top 8 bracket.
“I want to equate Macom Top 8 tournament to the FA cup in United Kingdom, where giants are killed by small teams or babies, it doesn’t matter whether you are a big team, you can kiss the dust,” he said.
Mascom chief executive officer, Jose Viera said the addition of Jwaneng Galaxy presents his organisation with a great opportunity to engage with the people of Jwaneng and surrounding areas.
He said as Mascom, they were also excited to have the Mascom Top 8 played at the Jwaneng Stadium for the first time.
“To Jwaneng Galaxy, we hope you will draw inspiration from your brothers, Orapa United. Last year, the Ostriches made history by winning Tse Di Tona on their first appearance,” he said.
BFA president, MacLeanLetshwiti said Mascom sponsorship was a great significance to Botswana football development.
He said given the turbulent times that football had found itself in during the past months, the Mascom Top 8 launch was truly an encouragement and inspiration to football.
Letshwiti said as BFA, they appreciate the magnitude of commitment and unwavering support that had been shown by Mascom over the past five years to the football fraternity through the sponsorship of the elite league.
“Let me also assure Mascom, our esteemed sponsor, that as the recently elected National Executive Committee of the BFA, we have hit the ground running to ensure that we restore normalcy and order to football. We are very much aware that a big brand like Mascom deserves better,” he said.
Teams that will play in this tournament are Township Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Orapa United, BDF XI, Gaborone United Miscellaneous, Jwaneng Galaxy, and Police Xl.ends