Alcohol ban costs Botswana COSAFA Cup
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 24, 2016 15:10
COSAFA was keen to have the Botswana Football Association (BFA) organise next year’s event. But BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng told Mmegi Sport yesterday that sport cannot be sponsored through any alcohol brand. He said there is no way they could be seen promoting alcohol through sport.
Reikeletseng said it was not possible for COSAFA Cup to come to Botswana as long as an alcohol brand is the sponsor.
“We do not want to be associated with alcohol. Our rules are clear that alcohol cannot sponsor sport in Botswana.
If they want COSAFA Cup here, they should bring a different sponsor,” he said.
When informed about the engagement between BFA and COSAFA, Reikeletseng said he was not aware of it. He said despite that, Botswana can participate in tournaments that are sponsored by alcohol outside the country.
For his part, BFA chief executive officer, Kitso Kemoeng said COSAFA wrote a proposal to them showing interest of having the tournament in Botswana. He said the BFA started engaging with relevant stakeholders for the tournament to come to Botswana.
“We have been engaging our principals about hosting the tournament. I am not at liberty to divulge the information on how the negotiations are going,” said Kemoeng. He said there are certain issues that need to be sorted before any decision can be made.
The Zebras are in tomorrow’s final against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.