BVF cancels Mascom Top 8 cup
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday October 26, 2016 15:49
BVF vice president-technical, George Keotsene told Mmegi Sport yesterday they have decided not to hold the tournament this year. He said the decision was taken after much consideration together with the sponsor, Mascom Wireless. He said it was agreed to focus on the league instead.
Keotsene said as BVF and Mascom work together, they were giving each other feedback on the benefits of the tournament.
“We realised that the Top 8 was not giving us what we needed. We did not see the need to continue with it. We felt that the league was not getting enough mileage due to the interference of the Top 8,” he said.
He said they might hold the tournament but as a separate competition with a different sponsor, an approach that could eliminate confusion with the league. He said they intend to negotiate with potential sponsors.
“Upon finding a sponsor, we would have to come up with a different approach to the tournament. Maybe it would not be called the Top 8,” he said.
The last Top 8 edition was won by Kutlwano (men) and Mafolofolo (women).
Keotsene said the priority is the league and everything should be done to make sure that it is finished on time.
Meanwhile, Keotsene said the 2016 league season has proceeded well despite shortage of venues. He said last year it was better as some of the matches were played at the Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences. He said the venue was unavailable this year, which led to all men’s games being played in Lobatse. He said as for Ditshupo Hall, it was expensive for the federation. He said they were also unable to utilise Police College due to the renovations that were taking place.
Keotsene said they had expected the league to be completed in November but that seems impossible.
“We had to postpone some women’s games because of the ongoing Under 23 championships in Kenya. We are also going to have another challenge because the men’s Under 23 would be getting underway immediately after this competition. We are waiting for the announcement of the venue and dates after South Africa pulled out from hosting,” Keotsene said.
The women’s Under-23 side has met with mixed fortunes after opening their campaign with a 3-0 loss to Kenya before beating Senegal 3-2 in the ongoing qualifiers. They play Rwanda today before facing Egypt tomorrow.