Clubs demand changes to player restrictions
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday June 23, 2017 14:49
The rule only allows BPL sides to register five more players if those players are under the age of 17.
BPL acting chief executive officer (CEO), Thabo Ntshinogang confirmed that one of the members has thrown in a motion calling for the rule to be amended and the age to be increased from under 17 to 20 years.
Their argument is that at 17, the players based on the current Botswana trends, are not ready to break into senior teams.
They end up being frustrated on the sidelines with Premier League coaches opting for experienced campaigners.
The motion is likely to pass with several teams in the past having expressed their reservations over the arrangement.
The rule also caused uproar during the 2015-2016 season when Mochudi Centre Chiefs protested that rivals, Township Rollers had registered more players over the age of 17 for that season.
It was eventually ruled that all the 16 BPL sides at the time had not complied with the rule.
Rollers and Orapa United also expressed their frustrations over the rule, especially at the time when they were to submit a list of players for CAF competitions.
The CAF competition allows teams to register 30 players without any age restrictions.
Both Rollers and Orapa at the time complained that if they were to sign five more players over the age of 17 for CAF competitions, they will be forced to pay those players the whole season without taking part in the league competitions.
Recently a panel of adjudicators were forced to tamper with the rule when they made nominations for the Young Player of the Season award.
The award is for players who excelled in the league while under the age of 17.
However, the panel was forced to nominate players under the age of 20 since Premier League clubs had not registered players under the age of 17 for last season.
Thato Kebue (Chiefs), Kesaobaka Ramotswedi (Green Lovers) and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Gaborone United) made the list and the winner will take home P10,000.
Should the BPL assembly adopt the motion, it will be passed to the mother body, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) through its Statutes Committee for further discussions.
Tomorrow’s general assembly is also expected to discuss the post of the CEO following the sacking of Bennett Mamelodi.
Since his suspension and his eventual expulsion, the BPL secretariat has been under the leadership of Ntshinogang on acting basis.
Speculation has been rife that the mother body and the BPL board want to do away with the post and re-introduce the post of general manager.
Before Mamelodi’s appointment, the Secretariat was led by the general manager who at the time was Phuthego Setete.
The post was later phased out and replaced by that of CEO.
Members of the league will also be briefed on the progress of negotiations with the two sponsors, Mascom Wireless and BTC who have been sponsoring the Mascom Top 8 and league competitions.
Meanwhile, August 19 has been suggested as the date for the start of the league.