BFA, Orange agree P12million FA Cup deal
Sport
Network providers Orange Botswana is reported to have agreed terms with Botswana Football Association (BFA) to sponsor the forgotten tournament otherwise known as FA cup. It is said the association is keen to breathe life into the tourney that was last staged nearly six years ago.
Sources at Orange company report that both BFA and Orange have roughly agreed a P 12 million sponsorship, and to show a measure of seriousness, the duo will sign a 3 year deal where an announcement will be made in the next few days. This effectively means the deal with be worth P 4 million per season. It is indicated that the association is more than willing to kick start the tournament as soon as January next year in case the schedule allows.
The tournament which features teams from regional leagues, First Division together with premier league clubs was last sponsored by Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) trading as Coca- Cola Company where the winner went home with a tune of P500-000. The last editon of the cup was won by Gaborone United under the tutelage of Philemon Makhwengwe’s in 2012, beating Mochudi Center Chiefs in a penalty shootout.
It has been six barren years as BFA struggles to secure a lucrative sponsor. In 2012, after Tebogo Sebego’s regime wrestled football power out of David Fani’s hands, promises were made that it shall be staged. Similar claims were repeated by Mac Lean Letshwiti’s regime.
It is reported however that the association once caught the attention of Choppies group as potential sponsors. It is said the country leading retailer shop expressed some misgivings about BFA‘s mal administration and therefore entertained a second thought- in process failing to commit.
At the close of last year, it was reported that BFA had engaged Orange Company and were on the verge of agreeing a possible deal of a three year contract. Orange were to sponsor the cup at a tune ofP30 million-of which P10 million was to be used for each season, it was claimed.
It was further said a winner was to pocket 1 million pula and will have a slot to participate at the Confederation of African football. In essence, the winner was likely to receive P 750 000, while the remaining P250 000 was to be instrumental in CAF competition games. But all these, it appears were rebuffed during the course of negotiations. Now sources are adamant that the company has finally agreed to commit.
In his speech at the company’s 2oth anniversary gala dinner hosted yesterday at Travel Lodge, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company Patrick Benon said they are happy to have returned to football after so many years. FA cup tournament was first held in the summer of 1992 under the brand sponsors, Coca-Cola.
Extension Gunners was the first team to win the tournament and Gaborone United, another premier league perennial campaigner, was the last club to take the cup home. However, history records indicate that the tournament was initially played in 1968, by then it was called Lions’ cup. According to records, both Gaborone United and Township Rollers won the tournament on six occasions. No team from lower divisions has ever won it.
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“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”
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