07 Feb 2021

Chairman of Botswana Premier League, Jagdish Shah has assured football enthusiasts that they are working to ensure safer ways of resuming the league in the midst of COVID-19.

In December 2020 Botswana Football Association president, Maclean Letshwiti announced that the resumption of the premier league was set for February 2021.

However, Shah said in an interview that they were working with BFA and the Ministry of Health and Wellness in finding a safer mode of recommencing the league.

He emphasised the importance of putting the safety of supporters, sponsors and players first as the world was fighting against the pandemic.

Shah noted that soon they would present a model of how football would resume and how they would expect the clubs to comply with set regulations.

He observed that other countries had resumed their football leagues under the new normal without spectators.  

Shah said they had planned to resume the league this month, but that the way things were unfolding with regard to COVID-19 they had set their eyes on March 2021.

If they succeeded in resuming the league by March, Shah said it would come to an end in August and the new 2021/2022 league would immediately commence and complete in June 2022.

He further advised clubs to submit their licensing paperwork to BFA, stating that most clubs had not complied with club licensing.

Shah said club licensing was vital as it could enable clubs to achieve a lot in their daily football activities including amongst others payments of players as well as the technical team.

He said with the new normal in football everything would be different and clubs were advised to be careful when using their funds.

“There is no doubt that before COVID-19 most teams were surviving through gate takings and selling of replicas, but that will not be the case no more,” he said.

Shah further stated that clubs would be assisted with COVID-19 disinfectant to resume training and engage in games, but tha it would be a once off aid.

He commended players for their understanding when football activities were suspended by deciding to stick with their clubs despite monetary problems. ENDS