By Godfrey Mowaneng
Botswana Football Association (BFA) is allegedly mulling over a decision not to renew a technical sponsor contract it has with local kit supplier All Kasi ‘for alleged incompetence.’
With the three year technical sponsorship signed by the two in January 2016 left with only three months before elapsing, Sunday Standard has learnt that contract extension negotiations are yet to commence as the BFA ponders a way forward.
According to insiders, Tsa Gae (PTY) LTD, which is trading as All Kasi, is allegedly failing to satisfy national team needs with the supply of kits during national teams demanding schedules from the junior to senior national teams.
‘’It is not yet clear whether the BFA is willing to extend their contract with All kasi due to certain logistics concerning national team regalia. It was compromised that the deal continue without footwear but it has since been discussed by the BFA top brass that footwear is a necessity to be provided in the next contract that the BFA enters with the next sportswear manufacture. There has also been worry of lack of timely delivery of bench jackets, rain jackets and other apparels as per agreement,” insiders told Sunday Standard.
Reports indicate that as far back as 2017, BFA President Maclean Letshwiti complained that the BFA was not benefiting from the All Kasi deal and was instead incurring costs particularly when selling and distributing Zebras replica jerseys.
It is alleged that as per the terms of agreement in the deal, the association was expected to get 5% from sales and royalties in the Zebras replica.
However, with the design of the replicas having not changed for over two years now, the association is alleged to be struggling to distribute the replicas and generate income.
Sources revealed to Sunday Standard that expectations was that the national team jersey was expected to change every year to accommodate fast moving fashion trends.
Reached for comment, BFA Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tumo Mpatane shied away from discussing the matter but said ‘the association is aware that the contract is coming to an end in January.’
“At the moment we cannot make public comments about our future with All kasi, as it stands we are still contracted to the sportswear manufacture and still satisfied with our wedlock,” Mpatane told Sunday Standard.
Asked whether the association has made reasonable replica jerseys sales, Mapatane said “at the moment sales are not enough as expected but we believe All kasi knows fashion trends and trust that we are still on track with the current national team jersey.”
Efforts to get Tsa Gae (PTY) LTD comment on the matter have since proved futile, with company Director Bannes Maplanka citing a busy schedule when contacted over the past three weeks.
