BPL autonomy talks gain momentum after SA trip
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday February 16, 2018 13:41
This comes in the wake of the BPL board’s trip to South Africa for a benchmarking exercise at the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The BPL has for years advocated for independence from the mother body in order to, amongst others, be able to negotiate its own sponsorship.
Although the association has always stated that the BPL would have to be autonomous in the future for it to grow, the mother body has warned in the past, that the decision should not be rushed.
Board members who went to South Africa last week, said they had a lot to learn from the PSL, which unlike the BPL runs its own affairs.
“While the South African Football Association (SAFA) remains the mother body, they have their own office, which is far away from the PSL office. The PSL is responsible for the running of the two leagues being the First Division and the elite league under the name, National Soccer League (NSL),” one of the board members, Clifford Mogomotsi said at a media briefing on Wednesday. Mogomotsi however said what should be the motivating factor for Botswana should be that the PSL has been where the BPL is.
The board members are of the view that as they push for autonomy, amongst other suggestions to be carried forward to the mother body, will be inclusion of First Division under the BPL.
The board is of the view that just like in South Africa, the BPL should be able to run the Premier League and the First Division while the mother body will be responsible for national teams, amongst others.
Although Ntshinogang could not give a timeline as to when the issue of autonomy will be concluded, he said discussions are ongoing.
The BPL is also salivating over the inclusion of the executive committee in the structure of the BPL, which will be more like a strategy committee for the league and reporting to the board.
Rollers president, Jagdish Shah, who was part of the contingent to South Africa, said people who are capable and influential should be allowed to assist the league to grow.
He said although Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung have their own teams in the league, they have ensured that through their vision, they carry other struggling sides in the league along.
He said the two officials have for the past three seasons witnessed the strength and success of Supersport United and have been proud of the achievement.