BPL, Mascom strike P7million Top8 deal

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Correspondent | Thursday December 1, 2011 00:00

 

The two parties struck a two-year deal worth P7 million with an option to renew for a third year.

It was revealed at the announcement of the sponsor yesterday that the tournament will kick off just after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in February next year. The winner will walk away with a whooping P1 million, the same prize money as that of the be MOBILE Premier League.

The runner-up will pocket P400, 000, while the semi finalists will get P200, 000 each. The teams that get knocked out in the first round will receive P125, 000 each.

The competition will feature the teams that finished in the top eight last season.

Premier League chairperson, Mokganedi Molefe said they are delighted to have entered into a partnership that is likely to improve the competitiveness of the league.

'We have said it in the past that we would strive to bring more partners in the league and the arrival of Mascom is highly appreciated.

We will continue to look for more partners as we strive to take our football to another level,' he said.

He added that he is of the belief that the arrival of Mascom will catalyse other corporate entities to come on board.

BPL general manager Phuthego Setete shot down allegations that some Premier League teams have said they have not been consulted about the competition.

He explained that all the 16 teams through their chairpersons, who form the Premier League Board of Governors, endorsed the competition.

'I can confirm that at our last board meeting, all the details including the prize breakdown except for the name of the sponsor were revealed to the teams and there was no single dissenting voice to that,' he said. 

He said all the proper channels were followed as far as the deal is concerned.

Mascom chief executive officer, Jose Vieira Couceiro said they are proud to have set a new trend in Botswana football sponsorship. 'We are proud to have redefined local soccer and raised it to a height aligned to the serious business that the game is,' he said.

The two parties are re-uniting for the second time after Mascom sponsored the league a few years ago.

The tournament will serve as a motivation for those who are likely to miss out on winning the league title especially with the Coca-Cola Cup running for the last time this season.  

BPL would be delighted with the latest deal after be MOBILE announced a new sponsorship deal worth P24 million over three years.