15 Aug 2019

Barclays Bank of Botswana sponsorship worth P7.6 million towards Botswana Premier League (BPL) will help the country advance its goals of professionalising sport.

This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at the launch of a two-year sponsorship between Botswana Football Association (BFA) and Barclays bank, where he applauded the bank for the initiative of investing in sport development. 

He said sport was an expensive undertaking that required a sustained investment, which could not be met by government alone. He thus emphasised that private sector investment in sport was critical for the nation to reach its sporting potential.

He said government had allocated over P180 million this financial year towards the development of the sport with funds allocated to Botswana National Sports Commission, constituency sports tournaments and the development of mini-stadia in different parts of the country.

Government, he said had also established 14 schools dedicated as centres of excellence around the country with the intention to unearth talent while ensuring education development among students.

“The centres cater for various sporting codes that include football, karate, athletics, boxing, netball, softball and P3.6 million has been allocated towards running of such centres this financial year,” he said.

Dr Masisi said this was because government recognised the important role that sport could play in the social-economic development of the country, which was in line and in harmony with the aspiration of the national long term Vision 2036.

One of the Vision 2036 key components, he said, was in recognition of the potential that sport had to create jobs for the youth. 

He said, as a result, the government had always been striving to seek innovative ways and new partnerships with the private sector to enhance sports development.

He, therefore, hailed Barclays bank’s investment in sport saying it would also contribute to employment creation for the locals through value chains thereby leading to economic diversification. Further, President Masisi applauded the BFA for its commitment to youth development as the association continued to be recognised internationally as its youth development programmes had earned accolades from the football governing body (FIFA) at the 2018 FIFA congress in Russia.

Despite the international accolades, President Masisi indicated that the local football was still faced with challenges, key among them been lack financial support expected from multinational companies operating locally.

 He pleaded with the BFA to protect the Barclays bank brand as it locally migrates to the ABSA bank and use it to attract other potential sponsors. 

Barclays Bank managing director, Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane explained that the partnership would see the bank sponsoring the BPL over the period of two seasons starting with the 2019/2020 season.

“The deal will see BFA and Barclays fund the cooperate social investment programme to the tune of P1.2 million, which includes a nationwide donation of indestructible balls as well as identifying 200 schools preferably in rural areas for grassroots coaching clinics,” she said.

Meanwhile, Botswana Football Association public relations officer, Tumo Mpatane said in an interview that although Barclays Bank of Botswana comes on board, BTC was still a premier league sponsor. 

He clarified that the two were co-sponsoring; a practice common across the globe, adding that BTC’s contract comes to an end this season (2019/20). Ends