BY DUNCAN KGANGKENNA
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) tight lipped amid allegations it has written a letter to the Botswana Premier League (BPL) expressing concerns over the latter’s breach of contract.
The BTC, which is the BPL’s main sponsor for the elite league, is reportedly annoyed by the way the league is being run..
Sources say the sponsor is irked by the number of games shown live on national television, which are way short of what was agreed.
According to sources, as part of the sponsorship agreement BPL’s official broadcaster,BTV, should have aired at least 60 live matches.
However, with only eight weeks remaining before the league wraps up, it is alleged that about 40 matches have been broadcast live and probabilities are that the agreed number of games shown live will not be met.
“The sponsor is complaining because it is not getting the mileage it was supposed to get hence they demand the league to explain why the contract is not followed” said the source.
The other issue was the new ticketing dispensation where each club sells tickets for the matches they host which allegedly does not meet the contractual agreement with the BTC.
“In the contract BTC was to get P5 from each ticket sold and currently BTC is getting nothing from tickets teams sell” explained sources.
It is also said as part of the agreement, all match day tickets were supposed to be branded with the league sponsors logo and procured from one identified supplier through an e-ticketing system.
However, it is alleged that following a new ticketing dispensation that sees clubs procure their own tickets, the league could not honour the agreed contract.
Asked to comment on the allegations, BTC communications manager, Golekanye Molapisi refused to reveal ant glitches they have with the premiership league.
“Contractual agreements are confidential in nature and as such BTC cannot discuss the nature, terms and conditions of the Sponsorship Agreement it has with BFA, as the terms therein are strictly confidential and cannot be disclosed or communicated to any person or entity under any circumstances” explained Molapisi.
He acknowledges that as part of the relationship, both parties have continually engaged on issues pertaining to the football sponsorship property.
Reached for comment, BPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thabo Ntshinogang said his office had not received any correspondence regarding the matter.
He however confirmed that the league is still lagging behind on meeting the agreed number of games to be televised. He further confirmed that only 41 games have been televised thus far.
BTC sponsored the league at the value of P39 million for three seasons. The sponsorship cover 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons. Each season the controversial league gets P13milion.
