The situation deteriorated around 2020 as most Premier League clubs struggled to shell players’ due. The disputes are handled by the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Dispute Resolution Chambre (DRC). In 2021, Masaseng indicated that the DRC handled more than 50 disputes involving clubs and players. There were concerns that the DRC was taking too long to resolve the disputes, as cases kept piling. At the time, 10 of the 16 Premier League sides were said to be struggling to meet their end of the bargain. But following the relegation of some of the ‘troublesome’ sides and the enforcement of the Club Licensing, the situation was expected to ease. However, Masaseng told MmegiSport recently that there has been no change in the situation.
“There has not been an improvement on the issue of payments to players. There are a number of overdue payables that we have experienced post-COVID time,” Masaseng said. He said there is low-case reporting during the season, with players preferring to lodge their issues at the end of the campaign. “Players tend to just tag along until the end of the season and start lodging their cases mainly because of two reasons; the employers tend to abuse the power to employ and subject players to submission,” he said. “Second, on account of fear of victimisation, they end up sleeping on their rights mostly until the end of their contracts. To this day, we can say the situation is the same as it was in the recent past,” Masaseng said. Club Licensing, a development which has seen clubs screened to participate in the Premier League, has been hailed as a solution to perennial challenges that players and coaches face.
