13 Jul 2022

Botswana Premier League Champions, Gaborone United alias Moyagoleele has partnered with Umbro in a P700 000 worth deal as their new technical kit sponsor. 

GU marketing manager, Herbert Letsebe told a media conference on Tuesday July 12 that Umbro would dress both the ladies and the men’s teams. 

“Umbro is sponsoring us to the tune of around P700 000 in regalia, so for the next three years, GU will be wearing Umbro as our technical sponsor,” he said.

 Furthermore, Letsebe said the team would unveil the main sponsor on July 26, adding that it will now occupy the large space on the playing jersey alongside the Zakhem Construction brand, which has been their main sponsor. 

Moyagoleele will also have a combined 55^th anniversary and players’ awards event on August 6 in Gaborone.  Letsebe said they have had a very successful season, hence finding it fit to celebrate and award their players for the sterling job. 

They will have 10 categories for the men’s awards, amongst them; players of the season, players’ player of the season, supporters’ player of the season, top goal scorer, young player of the season, director’s award, most improved player of the season, most disciplined player of the season and goal of the season. 

Despite not initially including the women’s team in the awards, GU director, Nicholas Zakhem said they would have three categories of awards for their ladies team, being the top goal scorer, player of the season and players’ player of the season. 

He said this coming season GU ladies team will be a force to reckon with, as they were working around the clock to beef up the squad so that they could challenge for honours. 

“I have a big interest in our ladies team. In the last six months, I managed to watch their games against Township Rollers, Double Action and Security Systems, just to name a few,” he said. 

Zakhem said he was confident that, women’s football would now take centre stage, adding he was happy that CAF had also made it a club licensing requirement. 

“CAF says every club must have a development side and women’s football, so all the teams in the Premier League are expected to have a women’s side,” he said. 

Talking about the season, he said despite winning some trophies, it was not an easy one, revealing that COVID-19 had affected lives and businesses, and GU, like all the teams, was also not sparred. 

“Football is a contact sport, and people gather together, hence it was difficult to play football when COVID-19 was ravaging,” he said, adding that a lot of people suffered financial difficulties. 

Zakhem said he was also proud that one of their players; left-back Mothusi Johnson had played 34 games without being given a yellow card. 

“He played 28 games in the premier league, five in the Orange FA Cup and one in the Mascom Charity Cup. That alone is history in the making,” he said. 

Overall, the team received only one red card, which was a clear sign of good discipline, Zakhem added. 

He said GU had eight players in the Zebras squad that was playing AFCON qualifiers, while it had six players at the ongoing Hollywood Bets COSAFA 2022 in South Africa, and they were also doing well. 

Meanwhile, Zakhem said GU would be playing in CAF, and he has already had a conversation with the players that, they were not going there as tourists, but to leave an indelible mark. 

He said they would retain most of their players, but they would beef up the squad where possible, to defend their titles. 

The business mogul said a couple of players were leaving the team for various reasons, amongst them Alphonso Modisaotsile, Kekaetswe ‘Mara’ Moloi, Joel Mogorosi and Misani Thupa. Ends