BFA VP COMMENDS VTM FC
Botswana Football Association Vice President, Marshlow Motlogelwa, has commended Division 1 outfit, VTM Football Club, for their professionalism and transformation.
The ambitious VTM launched Umbro as their technical sponsor on Tuesday. The English sportswear will be providing the club with home and away kits, including training and travelling gear.
Speaking at the launch, Motlogelwa said as the association, they have been talking commercialisation and transformation of football and hailed VTM for heeding the message. He said the club is a reference point for other teams possibly even those in the elite league. The VP advised the club management to take this partnership as an investment and that they should make sure that there is a return on it.
“This club was established three years ago and they are the epitome of ambition and visionary leadership. As a team, they have acquired a piece of land in which they intend to build its forever home. I’m told once completed, the facilities will have club offices, training facilities for the senior and development team, a requirement for club licensing” said Motlogelwa.
“I believe this is the beginning of a fruitful path to self-sustainability for this club. That’s a big initiative and commendable for a lower division side transforming to be a commercial entity,” said Motlogelwa.
He said the BFA now want to cascade compliance to the lower structures. Motlogelwa said for the lower divisions, they must at least have an Executive Committee and a bank account. He said this year BFA embarked on clubs’ commercialisation drive for premier league teams and VTM is already well ahead of them.
For his part, the club Chairperson, Vincent Mafuta, said they will soon embark on a membership drive activations across the country. Mafuta said they have young talented players and their dream is to export them.
“We are not looking at short term benefits and big things are yet to come. We see football as a multibillion Pula industry, not just a game. This team started as a social club. That is where we met our current coach, who is a former national team player, Otlaantshekela Mooketsi,” said Mafuta.
In his brief remarks, Umbro Country representative, Pius Mokhwela, said they are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with VTM. Mokhwela said their company has been in existence for over 90 years and their passion - for a long time - has been football growth.