Teams� wish on players� quota granted
Staff Writer | Wednesday August 23, 2017 15:15
Clubs have previously expressed reservations over the rule saying it crippled them in as far as squad depth was concerned.
They argued that players who are below 17 in the Botswana market are not ready to break into the first team line up. Their view was that the young players if registered, end up being frustrated on the sidelines with Premier League coaches opting for experienced campaigners. During the BPL assembly this year, clubs challenged the rule and asked that the age limit instead be raised to 20 years. Although the BPL acting chief executive officer, Thabo Ntshinogang could not be reached at press time, he did confirm in a radio interview that the rule has since been changed. He said the teams are now allowed to register 25 players and five more players if they are under the age of 20.
The previous rule also caused an 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 failed to comply with the rule. Rollers and Orapa United once expressed their frustrations over the rule arguing that it is frustrating their plans, especially in the CAF competitions. The CAF competitions allow for teams to register 30 players without any age limit. 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 for the whole season without taking part in the league competitions.
Recently, a panel of adjudicators was 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 the past season. Thato Kebue (Chiefs), Kesaobaka Ramotswedi (Green Lovers) and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Gaborone United) made the list, with Kebue walking away with the award.