Gilport Lions face branding nightmare
Mqondisi Dube | Monday September 22, 2025 06:01
This means the team will campaign under the name of Taung Young Strikers until next season. Young Strikers kicked off their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Tlokweng United, shifting their home base from Taung village to Lekidi Centre, which is part of the transition to Gilport Lions. The team's playing kit is already branded Gilport Lions, while on the official team sheets, the name is still that of Taung Young Strikers. Gilport Lions director, Kelesitse Gilika, decried the delays in changing the name from Young Strikers, which he said caused inconveniences. 'Unfortunately, we acquired the status after the (Botswana Football Association) assembly. The change of name has been approved but can only be implemented after the next assembly and ratification thereof,' Gilika said. 'We requested the BFA to refer the matter to the Emergency Committee in the interest of football and the welfare of players, but there is no longer that provision in the constitution. We went through the same thing in 2014 when we acquired the BMC status,' he added.
Gilika noted that the current arrangement presents challenges. 'The biggest inconvenience is that we cannot approach any sponsor or partner for any long-term relationship until we change the name,' Gilika said. He said some partners were prepared to assist in the project, but the delayed name change has put spanners in the works. 'We have partners at Gilport Enterprises, who are willing to contribute to the project, but they cannot invest in a brand that will not exist next season. We have had to use the Taung logo on our equipment and kit, and are forced to fund the project through our own merged resources. We are, however, lucky to have friends of like mind who are also putting their hands in their pockets to carry the project through,' he said.
He said one of his former players at Gaborone United, Kuda Pie, has convinced his company, Petroplus, to be the team's kit sponsor, after he appreciated the situation. Gilika said they have managed to achieve some of their goals, which include building a team within a short space. 'We have already achieved our first goal, which is to build a team in three weeks to save football from a situation where the status has no takers even after the fixtures were announced,' he said. He said the other objective was to bring back Gilport Lions to Gaborone West and give youngsters a platform. 'We have taken 30 kids off the streets of Gaborone West as players and administrators. We have two young coaches who have been allowed to launch their coaching careers without pressure.' He said they will soon launch an academy, and also give the boys, whose ages range between 17 and 23, an opportunity to showcase their talent. The team has four experienced players to guide the youth.