09 Aug 2020

The much anticipated transformation of football into a commercial entity is no longer a mirage after the registration of Botswana Football League (Pty)Ltd by Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA).  

According to a press release from Botswana Football Association (BFA), the Botswana Football League (BFL) will have 16 premier league clubs as shareholders and it will be a stand alone entity, which will run their affairs independently from BFA.

“As per FIFA standards and guidance, the BFL will only be a special member to federation (BFA)”, the statement says.

The release also says BFL will re-brand the premier league and make it a more viable property to entice partnerships that will see value for their investment.

Meanwhile, in an interview recently, Kelesitse Gilika, spokesperson of the transformation and sponsorship committee, which was appointed by BFA to implement the transformation of the elite league, said the transformation was long overdue so as to turn football into a commercial entity.

Gilika said commercialisation of football would  help clubs benefit from broadcasting rights through advertising adding that they had already trained teams and regions on requirements needed for the transformation.

He further said the transformation of elite league would aid Botswana football to compete against strong leagues regionally, continentally and internationally.

He added that through the transformation process there would be an ‘umbilical cord connection’ between the BFL and First Division both South and North to aid in the promotion and relegation processes.

“We are going to continue to work with both BFA and FIFA to smoothen the club licensing and transformation process,” he said.

He further said they were in the process of hiring employees, who would perform day to day duties, as per the Companies Act, which required companies to design rules and regulations that would guide the organisation during their day to day duties.

Also, he said they were still engaging with all stakeholders to aid in making of the rules and regulations.ENDS