BFA pushes for Premier League reduction
Mqondisi Dube | Friday February 28, 2020 15:24
Mmegi Sport has learnt that the intention is to cut teams to 12, in an effort to ensure a healthier distribution of financial resources.
The 16-team assembly is seen as bloated for a country with a population of two million, while across the border, a more resourced Absa Premiership has a similar number of teams. South Africa’s population is nearly 60 million.
Most local clubs struggle to get through a season, operating on a shoe-string budget, which has triggered talk of league reduction.
It is said the BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti wants the reduction as soon as possible, but hurdles lie ahead.
During a recent one-day seminar for Botswana Premier League clubs, the topic was discussed, and while stakeholders appear in tandem, there is the immediate headache of implementation. “Some clubs fear that if they vote for the reduction, it might affect their status. It is not clear when this will be implemented. But there is a general feeling that the sooner it is implemented, the better,” a source said. The timelines remain hazy, as it looks practically impossible to reduce the teams by the start of next season.
However, the source said the BFA is banking on Club Licensing to rid the league of non-compliant teams.
“The association is seeing a situation where some clubs might fail to get a full licence due to Club Licensing requirements. That way, such clubs will automatically fall off, and will not be replaced,” the source added.
BFA marketing and public relations officer, Tumo Mpatane said they would wait for the logical conclusion of discussions over the reduction of teams.
“It is a debate that is ongoing. It is a conversation we are having, but there are a lot of issues we have to go through. We must respect the process and wait until it concludes,” Mpatane said this week.
The matter can be tabled as a motion for discussion at the next BFA general assembly scheduled for between July and August, or the association would keep its fingers crossed that Club Licensing becomes the ultimate arbiter.
Most clubs were operating on provisional licences, but from next season, the BFA has said it would only issue full licences to enable compliant parties to compete.