It appeared to be the right move as particularly KBL's Black Label brand is consumed in considerable volumes during Sunday soccer. The growth of social soccer outside the official football structures led to some arguing it could overtake mainstream football's popularity. Over the weekend, the KBL social soccer finals took place largely before a gaping National Stadium. This has ignited debate on whether social soccer is really that popular that it even warranted comparison with the mainstream structures. The Botswana Football Association (BFA), as the custodian of all official football competitions in the country, was not impressed with KBL's move to prioritise social football over the recognised structures. KBL will argue that it looks at leveraging on the popularity of an event in order to gain mileage or market its products. But the BFA and KBL contestations on the matter are besides the point.
The common theme that emerged after the weekend social league finals was that Sunday soccer is not as popular as initially made out, or that it cannot challenge mainstream football. But I will beg to differ. It will be unfair to judge Sunday soccer based on the poor crowd at the National Stadium. May be the blame should be on the doorsteps of the organisers who took the event to what can be equated to an elite venue; more like taking a 'kasi' event to Phakalane. Sunday soccer has its venues scattered across localities and there was no reason to remove it from there. The argument is that Sunday soccer is not contributing much to the development of mainstream football but it must be remembered that this is more of recreational activity than an organised, professional structure. Let it flourish where it originated. By taking it to the National Stadium, it is akin to trying to change the cosmetics.
