10 Sep 2023

Event sponsorship can be a game-changer for securing the much-needed resources to create revenue streams.

It is on such backdrop that the Botswana Football Association (BFA) aims to use its inaugural awards billed for October 7 to attract financiers, particularly for a one-day event.

Speaking at the launch in Gaborone recently the awards local organising committee chairperson, Alec Monyake said it was paramount for the association to come up with initiatives owing to the challenges it had faced with to attract investors and sponsors.

“It is of paramount importance for the association to come up with initiatives like awards, where people could comfortably sponsor a one-day event. We want to use the awards as income generating streams,” Monyake said.

He added that they had also invited Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, who is also a South African mining business magnate, Patrice Motsepe to be a guest speaker at the awards.

On the other hand, Monyake said they would use the awards to reward volunteers at regional football associations for their dedication and working tirelessly on daily basis to ensure success of all the association’s programmes and general growth of the sport in the country.

“These volunteers are not paid. The only way is for us to recognise their efforts and these awards will be a part of rewarding their efforts. Generally the awards are aimed at improving the performance of our football structures,” he said.

He added that they would, for the first time, induct during the awards deserving individuals who had for the game on the BFA hall of fame.

Meanwhile, the awards nominees included, among others, best region in administration and good governance and the category features; Tsabong Regional Football Association, Kweneng Regional Football Association, South East Regional Football Association, Chobe Regional Football Association and Central South Regional Football Association contending for the prize.

Nhabe Region, Francistown Regional Association, South East Regional, Hukuntsi Regional and Gaborone Regional Football Association will battle it out for the best region in league development.

For the best region in women’s football, nominees include Southern Regional Football Association, Selebi Phikwe Regional Football Association, Nhabe Regional football Association, Kgatleng Regional Football Association and Gaborone City Regional Football Association

Nominees for best region in youth football comprise Nhabe Regional Football Association, Selebi Phikwe Regional Football Association, Gaborone City Regional Football Association, Francistown Regional Football Association and Central South Regional Football Association.

Matebele FC, Tafic, Gaborone United and Jwaneng Galaxy men’s clubs will tussle out for the team of the year while Pontsho Moloi of Gaborone United, Morena Ramoreboli of Jwaneng Galaxy, Seemo Mpatane of Eleven Angels and Mandla Mpofu of Masitaoka will contend in the coach of the year category.

The men’s footballer of the year nominees comprise Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Tumisang Orebonye, Gape Mohutsiwa, Mothusi Cooper, Kabelo Seakanyeng and Lebogang Ditsele

Sedilame Bosija, Laone Moloi, Lone Gaefetoge, Mokgabo Thanda, Lesego Radiakanyo and Keitumetse Dithebe will battle it out for the women’s footballer of the year award.

One of the clubs from Double Action, Gaborone United, Western Dynamite and Granada FC will walk away with women’s team of the year award. Ends