Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVS)’s long search for a league sponsor may soon be over with the federation said to be on the verge of agreeing a deal with a potential sponsor.
Word reaching Sunday Standard is that negotiations between the volleyball mother body and the unnamed potential sponsor to bring the year-long league drought are at an advanced stage.
‘’We are hopeful that we will have a sponsored league this season. We are in talks with potentials that cannot be divulged at this stage as nothing has been finalised yet. We assume that we will get something that can run the league,” disclosed BVF president Daniel Molaodi.
Speaking in an interview, the BVF president further said they are hopeful that the potentially incoming league sponsorship will be a little higher than their past one.
‘’We want something higher than the last sponsorship deal that can assist in the growth of the game. We will look into the range of the sponsorship funds to decide whether its suitable for the league or cup but i believe the amount will be able to run the league. It is vital that this season a league structure should be up and running for the sake of volleyball growth and development,” Molaodi told Sunday Standard.
While the deal is yet to be sealed, Molaodi expressed optimism that the BVF will soon have a structured league again.
Ever since the departure of erstwhile league sponsors Mascom Wireless two seasons ago, the BVF has struggled to find sponsors, resulting with the suspension of the league.
In the absence of a structured league, BVF and clubs resorted cup tournaments last season to fill the gaping void and keep players active.
The effects of the long absence of structured league games were already starting to show as the performances of the national teams in international games plummeted.
Local clubs were also adversely affected by the absence of the league as some club structures collapsed due to mass exodus of players seeking action in the governments sponsored constituency leagues.
With the BVF now having notified its affiliates to start registering players in preparation for the league games, hopes are high that clubs will rebuild again.
In a statement released to affiliates, the BVF informed affiliates that “the first player registration and transfer window for the 2018 playing season will be open effective from the 28th February.”
It was also advised that affiliates are required to have paid annual subscription fees and annual return.
“Be reminded that to register players you must have paid your annual subscription and submitted your annual returns for the current year,” read BVF statement.
