BFA to clamp down on defaulting clubs
Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 31, 2018 11:56
Life will get increasingly difficult for clubs that fail to pay players, or live beyond their means, as the BFA moves to instill discipline.
Sources said clubs would be expected to submit their budgets to the national association for scrutiny, and the teams have to spend within their means. Initially, clubs were supposed to be suspended, or not issued with a licence, but still remain a member of the Botswana Premier League (BPL).
This was seen as ineffective. Under the proposed sanctions, a defaulting club will not be allowed to sign new players during the transfer window. Points will then be deducted from such a club until they relegate.
“The BFA sees this as a more effective way of addressing the matter,” a source said. The BTC Premiership is inundated with matters of clubs failing to pay players, forcing authorities to step in.
The CAF Club Licensing system kicked-in last season, with some only a handful of sides managing to satisfy the requirements.
However, at the start of the new season, the BPL announced that all clubs had been cleared to play, an indication they had passed the Club Licensing requirements.
First Instance Body (FIB), which is responsible for licensing clubs, said all teams were compliant.
“They all met minimum requirements to enable them to participate in the league. However, there are new aspects that will be introduced to address failure to meet financial obligations. The BFA is currently reviewing sanctions as advised by CAF. We want to come up with better sanctions to address defaulting. CAF’s view is that club licensing should enhance administration and not be a punitive measure,” FIB secretary, Phuthego Setete said.