BFL ‘repairs’ relationship with clubs

The Botswana Football League (BFL) is working towards restoring its relationship with elite clubs following the recent appointment of a new chief executive officer at the governing body. The BFL is an arm established under the Botswana Football Association (BFA) to run the Premier League, but with just under two years of existence, some have lost faith in the organ.

The BFL has failed to secure a title sponsor for the elite league while the resignation of founding CEO, Solomon Ramochotlhwane echoed maladministration in the organisation. There is also a recurring conflict with clubs over league grants. The BFL is now under the new leadership of South African sports executive, Senzo Mbatha, who is eager to restore the tattered relationship with the football fraternity. On Saturday, the BFL will hold an engagement session with member clubs at Lekidi Football Centre under the theme, ‘The sincere route to a restored tomorrow’.

The session will provide a platform for the BFL and the clubs’ general managers, marketing, and communication personnel to engage and share ideas to build a professional league. “In our quest to give our league a fresh outlook, we are exploring the best practices in football management and as such the engagement will discuss football, marketing, kit, and ticketing manuals that speak to professionalism and we will capacitate general managers of our member clubs together with their marketing and communications personnel under the theme...,” the BFL stated this week.

Just over 100 participants are expected to grace the engagement session. Mbatha will face the clubs for the first time since his appointment last month.

The well-travelled administrator has been tasked with laying forward a substantive BFL administration that is to take over after a year.