beMOBILE pulls out of Premier League awards
Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday June 15, 2016 16:12
The sponsor, which will have spent a whooping P69 million over nine seasons on the Premier League, has set out strict demands to the BFA.
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL) head of sponsorship and consumer public relations, Tiro Kganela said they are concerned with the current developments. beMOBILE is a subsidiary of BTCL. beMOBILE said despite football playing its role as a unifier with positive attendances at matches last season, it was ‘deeply concerned’ about the ongoing crisis.
“Despite this positive spirit we have, however, been deeply concerned about the going-ons at the BFA and its structures in as far as the beMOBILE Premiership sponsorship is concerned. As the title sponsor, our wish is for sanity to prevail once again to our beloved football,” Kganela said in a statement yesterday. He said the BTCL management has made an evaluation on the sponsorship and has drawn the BFA to a number of issues, including among others, an in-depth reflection on the association and its structures to instil back some integrity and corporate governance into the sponsorship asset. The BFA and Botswana Premier League (BPL) have been ordered to wrap the current season.
“The BFA and BPL must wrap up the 2015-2016 season, and deliver on their contractual obligations, including among others furnishing the title sponsor with an end of season report and audited financial accounts for the sponsorship funds.
“We have further taken a position not to sponsor the 2015-2016 beMOBILE Premiership Awards ceremony as we believe that there is no celebratory mood amid the current mishaps befalling the local football,” Kganela said.
“BTCL will, however, honour its contractual commitment to disburse undisputed title winners and individual awards prize money as soon as the BFA furnishes us with an official written confirmation of the 2015-2016 season title and individual prize winners.
We only hope that the current ongoings at the BFA and its structures find a quick resolution to allow for preparations of the 2016-2017 season.” Under the current deal, beMOBILE sponsors the Premier League for P30 million over three seasons.
BFA president, Tebogo Sebego said beMOBILE’s frustrations are understandable.
“I can’t blame them for their reaction. It is now up to us to wake and realise the importance of protecting the game and the sponsorship. The good thing is that we have an opportunity to rectify the situation,” Sebego said. He said next season, they will have a beMOBILE representative in the Premier League management structure as a way of protecting the sponsor.