02 Oct 2024

The football fraternity has embraced and endorsed the appointment of Emolemo Kesitilwe as the Botswana Football League chairperson based on his intellectual stature. 

Above all, Kesitilwe is known for his corporate background, which has seen him become a trailblazer in the field of finance and he is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Gambling Authority. 

Some football pundits are also of the view that with the controversy that has been surrounding the league, it needed a neutral person like Kesitilwe, who could steady the ship, and restore the sponsors’ confidence. 

Kesitilwe himself is a great lover of football and a staunch supporter of a professional football club, Liverpool in England. 

Former Township Rollers managing director, Somerset Gobuiwang said he was happy that the BFL had appointed someone with a corporate background whose strength is finance. 

“We just want to see results. In South Africa they have Ivin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung and they have over time struck good deals for the Premier Soccer League,” he said. 

Gobuiwang said expectations are that Kesitilwe would strike deals for the league given that teams are suffering due to lack of sponsors. 

He said it would be ‘suicidal’ to only depend on the First National Bank (FNB) as the sole sponsor, adding that it is vital for them to look for more sponsors. 

“FNB is the title sponsor, but at the same time, we need more sponsors to come on board as that would help the teams to grow,” Gobuiwang said. During his acceptance speech after his election, Kesitilwe said for Premier League to thrive, it must be financially sound. 

“I believe that, with the right team and support, my experience in financial and strategic leadership will be key as we explore innovative revenue streams, secure sponsorship deals, and build partnerships that ensure the League’s long-term viability and prosperity,” he said. 

He said his appointment and his board was an exciting time for the Botswana Premier League, given that together, they could inspire the next generation of players and fans and showcase the immense talent and potential of the beautiful game, not just locally, but to the world. Ends