The Botswana Football League (BFL) is yet to announce dates for the commencement of 2022/23 season pending resolution of a case in which five clubs have been suspended from the league for failing club licensing requirements.
BFL Chief Executive Officer Solly Ramochotlhwane has revealed that they are ready to start the season any time after the independence holidays but they are still waiting for the Botswana Football Association (BFA) to give them a go ahead pending Extension Gunners, Morupule Wanderers, Mogoditshane Fighters, Eleven Angels and Masitaoka’s fate. The league was scheduled to have resumed on September 10.
“We are ready to start the league any time after the independence holidays and there is no way we would not start because if the clubs fail to meet those requirements then we will have to start with what we have. We can start the league with even 8 or 9 clubs depending on the situation on the ground,” he told Times Sport.
The clubs were recently denied licenses and also had their appeals dismissed after failing to meet the club licensing requirements, leaving BFL with only 11 clubs. The decision meant that the five clubs were to be relegated to the lower division this season but the BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) has referred the matter to the licensing body to give the clubs more time to correct their applications.
Ramochotlhwane explained that the final decision lies with the licensing body as to whether the clubs will be given enough time to add and correct missing information or not. “We have pleaded that those teams that have missing information or whose faults can be corrected be given a chance to do that and pay a P15, 000 fine,” he added.
But Ramochotlhwane said if the Licensing Body does not take heed of the plea, then the League will have to start with 11 clubs for the rest of the season. He also explained that all the clubs were taken through the phases on how they should process their applications adding that the appeals body’s decision is final and binding.
“Those who have not been granted licenses are contacted and told reasons why and they are given five days to appeal, and when you appeal, you do not submit new information because you were given a chance during the core work,” he explained.
Morupule Wanderers failed to provide information about the finance manager while Masitaoka did not submit anything for the Head Coach as well as Physiotherapist. Mogoditshane Fighters also failed to provide information on the Head Coach. Gunners were reportedly denied a license because of overdue payables. Eleven Angels on the other hand are said to have failed to submit a youth development programme and there was no submission on the finance person and head coach.
