League to resume despite sponsorship hitch

Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday January 9, 2014 15:11

First Division South secretary Sydney Magagane told Mmegi Sport the clubs would meet on Sunday to discuss the fixtures with the view to reach an agreement for league to resume on February 1.

Magagane said the intention was to continue with the league despite the delays in finalising the Debswana sponsorship.

On other issues, Magagane was hopeful that the Botswana Football Association (BFA) would continue paying referees in the second round of the league.  The association approached the BFA at the beginning of the first round for assistance because teams were failing to pay referees.

Magagane said such failure led to tension between referees and teams. He noted that BFA paid referees for officiating and transport mileage at the end of first round as per agreement.  “Referees payments are expensive for teams because they have to part with P5, 940 the entire season. Each referee is paid P180 per match. When things got tough the league had to use its money to foot the bills but since BFA came on board the situation got better,” he said. Magagane said the main challenge was to send professional referees to officiate in matches played in Gantsi due to the distance. The league uses second division referees who always come under heavy criticism from teams.

According to Magagane, outside teams playing in Gantsi claim that they are sure of losing points. Magagane said all that was to change in the second round.

Meanwhile, First Division North secretary Maraole Sikwane said the match between Great North Tigers (GNT) and Two-Two Five would be played over the weekend to wind up the first round. The second round is scheduled to commence on January 25.

Sikwane pointed out that the first round started late due to various factors such as disciplinary cases and play-offs but the first round went smoothly. 

He raised concern that for teams to be playing without Debswana branded kits was demoralising and also affected the sponsor.

Sikwane the league was informed by the manufacturer of the delay but hoped that the branded kits would arrive before the start of the second round.