BPL in the dark over contract
Mqondisi Dube | Friday May 3, 2019 12:18
The BPL is the beneficiary of the P39 million three-year contract, which the BFA signed with the telecom company in 2017.
There were reports earlier this week that BTC had terminated the sponsorship deal, although both parties have claimed ignorance. BPL chief executive officer, Thabo Ntshinogang said they had not received any communication regarding the issue.
“We have not received anything neither from BFA nor from BTC,” Ntshinogang said.
BTC recently wrote to the BFA indicating that it was not deriving any financial benefit from the sponsorship.
“BTC has made it clear that this is not a donation, it is a sponsorship. They expect to derive benefits. There is a feeling that BFA is not maximising on category matches where the sponsor could be benefitting,” a source close to developments said.
“Clearly there are a lot of issues that the sponsor is not happy about,” the source added.
The telecommunications company has been sponsoring the Premier League since 2009, and has seen cash prize money for winners rise from P160, 000 to P1.3 million.BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo told Mmegi Sport on Tuesday, that he was unaware of any termination.
“Yes, there are issues, which we are currently discussing with the sponsor, but I am not aware of any termination,” he said.
BTC communications manager, Golekanye Molapisi also said he was unaware of any termination of the deal. There was a BTC board meeting, but it is unclear if the BFA contract formed part of the discussions. The BPL deal was struck soon after BTC became a private company, and there is reported pressure from directors to justify the partnership.
Meanwhile, Ntshinogang said he could only talk about the season’s BTC Premiership after meeting the sponsor.
Last year, the BPL failed to hold the awards, and with two games to go, there is still no date for the ceremony.
Molapisi said the onus to hold the awards rests with the BPL, as “this is a football matter”.