16 Feb 2017

It remains every Botswana Football Association (BFA) region’s dream to have a local team competing in the elite BTC Premiership and Chobe region is no different.
The region has never had any team qualify for the elite league and if there are any hopes to entertain lately, Chobe United, which is currently playing in the Debswana First Division North (FDN), could just be the side to consider.
But as much as Chobe United is ambitious and the Chobe residents want to see one of their own playing in top flight football, there is need for injection of funds in the form of sponsorships, which have not been coming through.
The team proudly calls a tourism rich district home and has been relying on random acts of support from local tourism enterprises and gate takings, but no main sponsor has been forthcoming to help.
It goes without saying that a financial boost will motivate the players and management to work extra hard and to also take care for the players’ welfare.
For this season, Chobe United has performed fairly well in the Debswana FDN, currently lying fifth on the log standings, just 10 points behind the log leaders, Tafic.
The team’s public relations manager, Johane Chenchekwa told BOPA in an interview that lack of funds is their biggest challenge and given that Kasane is far from just about every other town, travelling for away games is a pain in the flesh for the players.
Francistown, which is the closest town, is about 490 kilometres away and other places such as Palapye and Mahalapye, where they need to play games at are too expensive to reach.
Mr Chenchekwa said therefore they need local companies to come on board and partner with them in such endeavours.
He said while the team is on its first season in the Debswana league, they remain ambitious and aim to finish in the top three if they cannot get the league championship.
“If we finish second, it will be a bonus as we want to make our region proud,” he said. ENDS