‘It is relief to Botswana Football Association (BFA) that football is back”. The words were echoed by BFA secretary General, Goabaone Tayor. The prolonged non football activities caused friction among football leaders. Some supporters were blaming the MacLean Letshwiti led BFA National Executive Committee for non football. They accused BFA leaders of failing to advocate and coming out with sound ideas to convince the Task Force to agree to the start of football activities.
“The league started after hiccups because of covid-19 restrictions and for the Botswana football league to have put the wheel on motion and everything underway is a job well done.” Taylor observed. She noted that the league starts under the new normal which requires all health protocols to be observed.
She said for the league to have started they had to convince stakeholders that they will do everything according to the Covid-19 rule book. Issues of compliance are important because they will give us the direction going forward and if we fully comply it will be easy for other leagues to start and football will be played across the country and across the BFA regions.
She cautioned that all stakeholders need to assist and adhere to health regulations so that nothing may lead to stoppage of the league due to non compliance. The optimistic Taylor is adamant that everything will be under control.
“The league is playing under a new environment. There will be teething problems here and there and it is up to both the BFA and BFA to work together to eliminate any challenges that they may encounter on the way.”
Footballers’ Union Botswana (FUB) Secretary General, Kgosana Masaseng when contacted for comment said, “we have mixed reaction. It’s good football is back but i don’t think football has done justice to players and I don’t think they have given players enough time to prepare. Our issue is on health of the players. Will it be sustainable to just start immediately after twenty months of no action,” he says. He said they have since talked to their members to give feed back on the start of the season.
Football together with other sports was suspended in March 2020. Only vaccinated supporters are allowed to attend games.
