Clubs make strides in securing offices

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Friday November 5, 2010 00:00

 

The general manager of the Premier League, Phuthego Setete, has said that teams with full time secretariats are Gaborone United, Township Rollers, ECCO City Greens, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Police XI, BDF XI, Motlakase and Miscellaneous. Interestingly,  Miscellaneous have just been promoted from the financially-starved First Division.Both Miscellaneous and Motlakase are based in villages where it is difficult to raise funds.   

Setete said Extension Gunners, BMC, Santos and Black Peril are operating offices which are not fully operational. There are only three clubs without offices. They are Francistown sides; TAFIC, TASC and Nico United of Selebi-Phikwe.

Gaborone United was one of the first clubs to open an office last year. Setete said it is their wish that every Premier League club should have a fully operational office. But he said they are aware that clubs do not have money to run fully operational offices. The Premier League official said when clubs have offices, it becomes easy to contact them. He urged clubs who have not done so to prioritise establishing offices. 'You can see that the clubs that have embarked on that route are already reaping the benefits.  They can sell merchandise from one point and collect subscriptions. It can be expensive but the rewards are enormous,' Setete said. 

He said the Premier League should assist clubs to set up their secretariat but this has not been possible because of lack of funds. 'We are not in a position to say we have enough partners,' he said. Setete said they are facing financial challenges, which are filtering to the clubs. 'We are not in a position to assist clubs with grants,' he said.Another challenge facing the Premier League is shortage of venues. This has led to the postponement of some matches.

Setete said in the North, Miscellaneous and Motlakase travel every week to play their home games away. At one time, Miscellaneous hosted one of its home games in Gaborone. Setete lamented that travelling is taking its toll on the two clubs, which is evident in their performance. He suggested the Premier League and clubs need to sit down with stakeholders including the government to see how they can put up more facilities.