BFL retains Matebele amidst sale uncertainty
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday July 27, 2026 06:00
The future of the Kgatleng-based side has been the subject of speculation since club director Lame Makache announced on May 19 that he was stepping away from senior football and was looking to relinquish his stake in the club.
More than two months later, however, no buyer has been officially announced, just over a month before the new Premiership season is expected to kick off at the end of August.
The uncertainty has raised questions over whether Matebele will take their place in the 16-team league should the sale remain unresolved.
Responding to MmegiSport enquiries, BFL interim CEO Idah Moinisi said the league still recognises Matebele FC as one of its member clubs.
'As things stand, Matebele FC remains a shareholder and member club of the Botswana Football League. The BFL has not received any official communication confirming the sale or transfer of the club's Premier League status,' she said.
Moinisi explained that Matebele, like every other Premiership club, is currently going through the mandatory club licencing process ahead of the new season, after which the league will assess the status of all participating clubs.
She said if the team eventually withdraws before the season starts, the matter will be dealt with in accordance with the BFL Competition Rules.
'In terms of the BFL Competition Rules, should a member club withdraw from the league before the commencement of the season, the BFL Board of Directors is to determine the appropriate arrangements or measures required to address the situation,' she said.
Moinisi added that there has been no indication from the club that it will not participate in the upcoming campaign.
'Matebele FC remains a member club of the BFL, and the League has not received any official notification indicating that the club will not participate in the upcoming season,' she said.
The BFL further dismissed suggestions that the unresolved ownership issue had disrupted preparations for the new campaign.
According to Moinisi, planning for the 2026–2027 season, including club licencing and operational processes, is progressing as scheduled, with the league focused on ensuring a smooth start to the season.
She said the BFL's Annual General Meeting, set for August 1, is expected to consider key matters relating to the new campaign.
The uncertainty follows Makache's emotional announcement on social media in May, where he confirmed he was ending a seven-year journey in senior football.
'A seven-year journey that took me from Kgatleng Regional Football Association Division Two all the way to the FNB Premiership comes to an end,' Makache wrote on his Facebook page at the time.
He said the prevailing economic conditions had made it impossible to continue financing a top-flight football club.
'The current economic environment makes it very difficult for me to continue sponsoring football. Football is a very expensive venture, and with the current situation my priorities lie elsewhere,' he added.
Makache also announced he was relinquishing his stake in Matebele FC and invited interested parties to acquire the club, whilst stressing that he would remain involved in football through the club's junior and women's teams.
The team's rise has been one of Botswana football's most remarkable success stories.
Under Makache's leadership, the club climbed from Kgatleng Regional Football Association Division Two to the FNB Premiership in just seven years, establishing itself among the country's elite clubs.
Efforts to obtain an update from Makache on the proposed sale were unsuccessful. His mobile phone rang unanswered, while he had not responded to written questions sent by MmegiSport by the time of publication.