23 May 2022

First Division North league champions, Nico United will have to pull all stops to ensure compliance with Premier League requirements.

Amongst other things, Nico will have to comply with requirements of club licensing part of which will require the club to have a full-time general manager running the affairs of the club.

“Premier League is all about professionalism...The issue of club licensing is very important,” Botswana Football Association (BFA) chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo, said during a press conference.

He offered to assist the returnees with compliance to club licensing.

Mfolo advised the team management to ensure they did not have outstanding or overdue payables before starting on the process of club licensing. He advised the green and yellow outfit to ‘tidy up’.

“The team should start thinking about a junior team, under 15, as part of sporting criteria,” the BFA CEO advised.

Mfolo also reminded Nico top hierarchy about the importance of football development.

While battling with issues of compliance, the club would have to generate funds to sustain their stay at the tier league, Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) mayor Lucas Modimana said.

“You can’t depend on donations. It’s not sustainable. Let’s go out and set up commercial vehicles meant for investment to raise funds for this team,” Modimana said.

He said the commercial vehicles would help the team pay salaries.

The mayor told Majombolo leadership that for them to stay afloat at the demanding Premier League, they would have to be financially stable.

Modimana challenged Nico to tap from the BFA CEO to avoid finding themselves on the wrong side of the football governing laws. “It would be very unfortunate for Nico to struggle because of issues of corporate governance,” Modimana said.

While Nico boasted endowment with a committee brimming with requisite skills to run a club, the team will have to ensure smooth transportation of the team to other venues such as Lobatse and Jwaneng.

Nico chairperson Busani Segweni said his committee had already written letters of appreciation to stakeholders who supported them in FDN league while the same appealed for further assistance in an even more challenging league.

Nico have been enjoying free transportation from SPTC. The team also enjoyed free use of SPTC stadium dubbed Sam Sono Stadium, according to Segweni.

Although he believed that his team would not struggle sourcing sponsorship, Segweni said they would approach SPTC again to negotiate a working relationship regardinge use of the stadium and the buses.

Segweni said his committee was busy sourcing sponsorship for the club to address the financial challenges.

Meanwhile, Nico lifted their trophy at Sam Sono Stadium after playing to a goalless draw against Peacemakers.

The two also played to a goalless draw in the first round.

In other results FDN games Sankoyo Bush Bucks walloped Santa Green 3-1, Calendar Stars put one past Tafic, relegated Maun Terrors beat Chadibe 2-1, Green Lovers won 1-0 against Motlakase while Eleven Angels beat Miscellaneous 1-0. ENDS