ORANGE FA CUP IN LIMBO
The sponsor mum on its position
At the time of abrupt stoppage of local football owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 last year March, the Orange Football Association (FA) Cup was at its quarterfinal stage. Since then, there has been several reports regarding completion of the tournament. Even after the 2019/2020 season was nullified, the Orange FA cup was exempted by the National Executive Committee with an aim to use the completion of the tournament as a curtain raiser when football returns.
In December 2020, Botswana Football Association (BFA) held its first local competitive activities as promotional play-offs to First Division and Premier League proved a successful trial test to ‘safelyreturn to football’ in the midst of the novel coronavirus.
BFA Competitions and regional coordinator, Setete Phuthego in February assured football fanatics on national television that Orange FA cup will take place In March, which, however, did not happen. Another suspension of competitive sports was imposed by the government leading to further delay.
There has been more than three (3) occasions where a window of opportunity presented itself for the tournament to be completed. Eyebrows were raised when the association failed in its attempts to put to bed the remaining part of the competition during that time. Following investigations by this publication, it emerges that the association and the sponsor (Orange) are at loggerheads about possible completion of the tournament. At the top of their discussions was lack of spectators at the games, and for the sponsor, no spectators means no excitement at the stadiums and subsequently less benefits in terms mileage and engagements.
Amongst other discussed solutions, was to cancel the 2019/2020 tournament with the remaining teams equally sharing the available funds for the campaign.
BFA CEO, Goabane Taylor during a press briefing upon resuming her post, shared that they are awaiting for the sponsor to communicate on the way forward and expressed their desire as the association to see the tournament being completed.
Heading almost into 2022, local football clubs, football fans and indeed the BFA are still in the dark about completion of the 2019/2020 Orange FA cup.
To get it from the horse’s mouth, this publication led its enquiries to the sponsor on what could be the main stumbling block to complete the second edition of the tournament. Circulating allegations of possible cancellation of the tournament or termination of the contract were not specifically responded to by the sponsor.
“Orange Botswana and Botswana Football Association (BFA) are still in talks regarding the pending fixtures and we are not in a position to disclose any information on the same. Once a conclusion is reached, the Botswana Football Association will share the information as expected,” Orange Public Relations office responded.
The eight teams left to battle it out in the tournament are Township Collins Rollers, Gaborone United, Prisons
XI, Mahalapye Railways Highlanders, Jwaneng Galaxy, Calendar Stars, Notwane and Masitaoka.
Some members of clubs involved in the tournament have decried lack of clear communication on this matter as they have had to time and again prepare for the games only for postponements to follow.