After eons on the peripheries, the Botswana volleyball league is back. Rebranded, fresh and with a million-pula government sponsorship, the league kicked off this past Saturday.
Once hampered by a chronic lack of sponsorships, the once thriving volleyball league now comes under a new skin. In accordance with its regeneration, it has shed its old Botswana Volleyball Federations (BVF) National League title.
To reflect its resuscitation, it will be known as the National Volleyball League or the NVL for short. On international platforms, it will interchangeably take the name NVL Botswana. This rebranding reflects the league’s ‘evolving identity, broader ambitions, and alignment with global naming standards.’
BVF Media Relations and Marketing Officer Joe-Brown Tlhaselo says renaming the league as the NVL seeks to align it ‘with international naming conventions, such as the NBA, EPL and PSL), just to name a few. This is intended ‘to make it easier to market, partner, and promote.’
Of greater importance, it is intended ‘to give the league a distinct identity that stands on its own while still being anchored to BVF.’ It reflects the league’s ‘national scope and growth aspirations, while allowing flexibility in branding across platforms.’
“The rebranding to NVL Botswana marks a strategic leap forward for volleyball in the country. It honours the past while positioning the league for greater visibility, sponsorship, and impact, both locally and beyond,” Tlhaselo says.
With its vibrant new identity, the NVL or NVL Botswana is expected to catch the eye of potential partners and sponsors. Even before the first serve, signs are visible the newly renamed league is catching serious vibes. Abotle Juice, a local fruit juice brand as well as Cresta President Hotel sponsored the league’s launch this past Friday.
Tlhaselo says their hope is that the two, along with other potential partners will come on board to forge long term partnerships. “Our hope is that one day in the near future, we can stop our reliance on the government league sponsorship and stand on our own,” he says.
The government sponsorship, is described by one club representative as ‘motsosa,’ loosely translated as a ‘potency revitalising tonic.’ This is the same line of thought held by both the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) and the BVF.
At its core, the government’s P1 000 800. 00 sponsorship is meant to revitalise clubs and enable them to compete once again. In line with this, BNSC Director of Sports Development Peaceful Seleka says 80 percent of the sponsorship money will go towards clubs and prize monies. Only the remaining 20 percent will be used for the league administration.
As such, the twenty-six (26) clubs registered to compete in the league will equally share P567 840. 00 as mobilisation fee. Each club will get P21 840. 00 to ease financial burdens incurred in matchday logistics and preparations.
In the same vein, P122 500. 00 will go towards the 14 clubs’ men’s league prize monies, while the 12 clubs’ women’s league will get P110 500. 00. The remaining P199 960. 00 will go towards league administration.
Speaking at the launch of the league, Seleka emphasised that the government’s league sponsorship was not expected to be permanent. “We were only assisting them to take off so that they can bring in the private sector and other partners. If they continued to be inactive, it would not make sense when they approached potential sponsors as no volleyball is taking place.”
“The intention was thus to help them to take off so that when they engage sponsors and partners, at least there will be something ongoing. We hope they will take advantage of this initiative by the Government and actually bring in sponsors and partners who will support them going forward.”
Seleka says volleyball is not the only beneficiary of the initiative. He says the initiative, which is meant to help team sports, has also been extended to six other national sports associations.
Meanwhile, the BVF says in line with the equal pay policies, teams competing in the league will get equal prize monies across the gender divide. This has been hailed as a good development, more especially as both men and women play equal sets on the field of play.
