BFL puts league kickoff on hold
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:07
The uncertainty follows Saturday's AGM, which failed to proceed after only five of the league's 16 shareholder clubs attended the meeting at the UB Hotel and Conference Centre, denying it the quorum required to transact business. With the new season widely expected to begin later this month, clubs are still waiting for official communication on the fixture list and kickoff date, adding to growing uncertainty over the top-flight campaign.
Responding to Sport Monitor enquiries, acting BFL CEO, Idah Moinisi said while preparations for the new season are continuing, the league cannot make definitive announcements until the AGM process has been concluded.
'The BFL recognises the importance of providing certainty to all stakeholders, including clubs, sponsors, players and supporters,' Moinisi noted.
'However, with the AGM yet to conclude, it would be premature to make definitive announcements regarding the season start date.'
She added the AGM remains the league's highest decision-making structure and is responsible for dealing with key governance matters before the BFL can communicate officially on issues relating to the new campaign.
'The AGM is the League's highest decision-making platform and is responsible for addressing a number of governance matters. Once those processes have been concluded, the BFL will communicate officially on the relevant outcomes. In the meantime, preparations for the 2026-2027 season are ongoing to ensure readiness for the commencement of the campaign,' Moinisi said.
The failure to convene the AGM has intensified concerns over the state of the league amid reports of growing dissatisfaction amongst clubs with the Sipho Showa-led board.
Some shareholder clubs are understood to be pushing for the board's removal following recent governance and financial concerns.
However, Moinisi declined to interpret Saturday's poor attendance as a vote of no confidence in the current leadership.
'The clubs that did not attend had confirmed their availability prior to the meeting, and therefore it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on their reasons for not being present,' she said.
According to Moinisi, the immediate consequence of Saturday's meeting was that the league could not transact any AGM business, but stressed that the current leadership remains in office.
'The immediate implication is that the meeting could not proceed with the business of the AGM, as a quorum was not achieved. In accordance with the BFL Constitution, the meeting has been adjourned and is scheduled to reconvene on Saturday, August 8, 2026. 'The current governance structures remain in place and continue to manage the affairs of the League,' she said.
The next Saturday AGM is expected to coincide with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) General Assembly, raising concerns that some football administrators may be forced to choose between the two meetings.
Moinisi, however, said the date was dictated by the BFL constitution and not by the league's executive.
'The date was not selected arbitrarily but is prescribed by the BFL Constitution,' she explained.
Moinisi said that where an AGM fails to achieve a quorum, the Constitution requires the meeting to stand adjourned to the same day, time and venue the following week.
She added that should the reconvened AGM again fail to attract a quorum, the member clubs present would automatically constitute a quorum and would be empowered to transact the business for which the meeting was called.
'We are therefore confident that the meeting will be validly constituted in accordance with the Constitution,' she said.
The BFL now faces a crucial week as it seeks to conclude its governance processes while also providing long-awaited clarity on the start of the 2026-2027 Premiership season.
Meanwhile, clubs, sponsors, players and supporters are awaiting confirmation that the campaign will begin as planned.