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The Botswana Premier League is the highest level football league in Botswana. Organised by the Botswana Football Association, the league was formed in 1978 to replace the pre-independence Bechuanaland Union African Soccer League, which was regional.[1] Participants in the first edition of the league included Tlokweng Pirates, Notwane, Black Peril, Queens Park Rangers and a team from Ngwaketse district.[1]
| Organising body | Botswana Football League |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Country | Botswana |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Debswana First Division North and Debswana First Division South |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Challenge Cup |
| League cup(s) | Mascom Top 8 Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | Jwaneng Galaxy (3rd title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Township Rollers (16 titles) |
| Top goalscorer | Thabang Sesinyi (102 goals) |
| TV partners | BTV |
| Current: 2024–25 Botswana Premier League | |
The league has always been dominated by the teams that are based south of Dibete or in the southern part of the country. In the 2006–07 season, Ecco City Greens made history by becoming the first team from the north to lift the lucrative competition. The league is sponsored by a mobile phone operator Be Mobile to the tune of 30 million pula. After the ABSA premiership in South Africa, the Be Mobile league is the second highest sponsored league in the COSAFA region. The league has continued to grow in leaps and bounds as shown by the increasing number of foreign players in the BPL. Some top players from mainly Zimbabwe like Arnold Chaka, Master Masitara, Elvis Meleka, Mandla Sibanda, Sageby Sandaka and Tendai Ndoro have ditched the Zimbabwean PSL for the BPL in recent years. Recently Namibian stars like Jerome Luis and Benson Shilongo arrived in Botswana in search of the Pula. After terminating their television deal with a South African company RP Productions, the league is now negotiating a long-term deal with Supersport International. In early 2013, the pay TV shown five BPL games on a testing basis.[citation needed]
The Botswana Football League as of July 2023 announced plans to reduce the amount of teams from 16 to 12.[2] In the 2023–24 season, 4 teams will be relegated with only 2 promoting. The following season, 2024–25, the same will be applied which leaves 12 teams in the Botswana Premier League. The main given reason is the contricted resources.
Sponsorship
editSince the 1980s, the Botswana Premier League has had title sponsors. The list below details who the sponsors were and what they called the league:
| Period | Sponsor | Name | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 to 2001 | Kgalagadi Breweries Limited | Castle Super League | |
| 2002 to 2005 | St Louis Premiership | ||
| 2006 to 2008 | Mascom | Mascom Premiership | |
| 2009 to 2014 | Botswana Telecommunications Corporation | be Mobile Premiership | [3] |
| 2014 to 2020 | BTC Premiership | ||
| 2024 to Present | FNB Botswana | Botswana Premier League | [4][5] |
Format
editDuring the league, from August to May, each club plays each of the other teams twice; once at home and once away, totaling 30 games for each team by the end of the season. Therefore, in Botswana football a true round-robin format is used. In the first half of the season, each team plays once against each league opponent, for a total of 15 games. In the second half of the season, the teams play in exactly the same order that they did in the first half of the season, the only difference being that home and away situations are switched. Since the 1994–95 season, teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Since Botswana is lowly ranked in the CAF rankings only one CAF Champions League spot is awarded to the league champions. The cup winners gain a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.[citation needed]
Since the 2005–06 season if two or more teams end the league with the same number of points, the deciding tie-breakers used are (in order):
- Head-to-head records;
- Goal difference of head-to-head records;
- Goal difference of league;
- Most goals for in league;
- Draw
Broadcasting rights
editStarting from 2002–03 until 2012–13 the broadcasting rights were held by the state broadcaster Botswana Television (BTV) and its radio partner Radio Botswana (RB1). P5 million per season were paid for the rights. Broadcasting of the games was irregular as the TV showed majority of games played in and around Gaborone citing poor quality stadiums in the north. Two weekend games are shown live on TV, with midweek games being delayed.[citation needed]
SuperSport deal
editIn 2013 there was major excitement when South African broadcasting giant entered the local market. The deal saw the state broadcaster temporarily losing the rights, as a few games were shown on pay-per-view. However it was short lived as SuperSport and the BFA parted their ways. Broadcasting resumed normally on BTV and RB1.[citation needed]
Hourlies
editSince 1980 all BPL games have been played at the same times. On Saturday most are played 15:00 pm CAT on winter and 16:00 pm CAT in summer. Few games are played at night due to poor lighting in most stadiums. In Sunday all games are played at 15:00 pm CAT or 16:00 pm CAT depending on the season.
Most in midweek games are played at 19:00 pm CAT.[citation needed]
Current season clubs (2023−24)
edit| Club | City / Town | Position in 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana Defence Force XI | Gaborone | 10th |
| Eleven Angels | Francistown | 6th |
| Gaborone United | Gaborone | 2nd |
| Holy Ghost | Gaborone | 13th |
| Jwaneng Galaxy | Jwaneng | 1st |
| Masitaoka | Gaborone | 7th |
| Matebele FC | Matebeleng | Promoted |
| Morupule Wanderers | Palapye | 12th |
| Nico United | Selebi-Phikwe | 11th |
| Orapa United | Orapa | 3rd |
| Police XI | Otse | 9th |
| Security Systems | Otse | 5th |
| Sua Flamingoes | Sowa | 8th |
| TAFIC | Francistown | Promoted |
| Township Rollers | Gaborone | 4th |
| VTM FC | Gaborone | Promoted |
Champions
editPrevious champions are:[6]
Past seasons
editManager records
editLeague winning managers
edit
Coach of the Season
edit| Season | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 |  Mike Sithole
|
Gaborone United |
| 2011–12 |  Daniel Nare
|
BMC |
| 2012–13 |  Madinda Ndlovu
|
Mochudi Centre Chiefs |
| 2015–16 |  Mark Harrison
|
Township Rollers |
| 2016–17 | Mogomotsi Mpote
|
Township Rollers |
| 2017–18 |  Nikola Kavazovic
|
Township Rollers |
| 2018–19 |  Rodolfo Zapata
|
Township Rollers |
| 2019–20 |  Miguel da Costa
|
Jwaneng Galaxy |
Performance By Club
edit| Club | City | Titles | Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Township Rollers | Gaborone | 16 | 2018–19 |
| Gaborone United | Gaborone | 7 | 2021–22 |
| Botswana Defence Force XI | Mogoditshane | 7 | 2003–04 |
| Mogoditshane Fighters | Mogoditshane | 4 | 2003 |
| Mochudi Centre Chiefs | Mochudi | 4 | 2014–15 |
| Extension Gunners | Lobatse | 3 | 1994 |
| Notwane | Gaborone | 3 | 1998 |
| Jwaneng Galaxy | Jwaneng | 3 | 2023–24 |
| ECCO City Greens | Francistown | 1 | 2006–07 |
| Police XI | Otse | 1 | 2005–06 |
Top goalscorers
edit| Season | Goalscorer | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Malepa Bolelang |
ECCO City Greens | 24 |
| 2006–07 | Pontsho Moloi |
Mochudi Centre Chiefs | 22 |
| 2007–08 | Master Masitara Jerome Ramatlhakwane |
Nico United Mochudi Centre Chiefs |
18 |
| 2008–09 | Master Masitara |
Nico United | 27 |
| 2009–10 | Terrence Mandaza |
Township Rollers | 31 |
| 2011–12 | Pontsho Moloi |
Mochudi Centre Chiefs | |
| 2012–13 | Pontsho Moloi |
Mochudi Centre Chiefs | |
| 2013–14 | Patrick Kaunda |
FC Satmos | 20 |
| 2014–15 | Lemponye Tshireletso |
Mochudi Centre Chiefs | 15 |
| 2015–16 | Tendai Nyamadzawo |
Gilport Lions | 19 |
| 2016–17 | Terrence Mandaza |
Township Rollers | 17 |
| 2017–18 | Thatayaone Kgamanyane |
Gaborone United | 20 |
| 2018–19 | Thero Setsile |
Jwaneng Galaxy | 18 |
| 2021–22 | Thabang Sesinyi
|
Jwaneng Galaxy | 24 |
| 2022–23 | Omaatla Kebatho
|
Orapa United | 23 |
| 2023-24 | Thabang Sesinyi
|
Jwaneng Galaxy | 15 |
Player of the season
edit| Season | Best Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Moemedi Moatlhaping |
Township Rollers |
| 2006–07 | Malepa Bolelang |
ECCO City Greens |
| 2007–08 | Oteng Moalosi |
Mochudi Centre Chiefs |
| 2008–09 | Joseph Phetogo |
Gaborone United |
| 2009–10 | Kabelo Dambe |
Township Rollers |
| 2013–14 | Mwampule Masule |
Township Rollers |
| 2014–15 | Lesego Galenamotlhale |
Mochudi Centre Chiefs |
| 2017–18 | Edwin Moalosi |
Township Rollers |
| 2018–19 | Thero Setsile |
Jwaneng Galaxy |
Team locations
editStadiums and locations
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Notwane on the brink of disaster". The Gazette. 18 June 2015.
- ^ Staff Writer (2023-07-06). "Sebego baffled by Premier League's decision to downsize". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Molwane, Tshepo (2008-11-11). "Botswana: Be Mobile Sponsors Premier League". allAfrica.com.
- ^ Boranabi, Kabelo (2021-06-15). "No sponsor, return date yet for Premiership". Mmegi Online.
- ^ Keagakwa, City (2022-08-26). "BFL confident of league sponsorship". Guardian Sun.
- ^ "Botswana - List of Champions". RSSSF. 2010.
- ^ "La COVID-19 précipite le dénouement de saison au Botswana". fr.cafonline.com. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Resumo - Premier League - Botsuana - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".