Resignation sends shock waves across the local football fraternity with the league set to begin this weekend
BONGANI MALUNGA
Solomom Ramochotlhwane has abruptly resigned from his position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Football League. The shocking announcement was made on Monday afternoon as the 2022/2023 BFL season draws nearer.
The BFL’s statement regarding his departure was coy. “This serves to inform members of the Media and all football stakeholders
that Mr. Solomon Ramochotlhwane who served as the Chief Executive
Officer of the Botswana Football League has resigned from his duties with
immediate effect
. An update will be issued through a press release soon, stating the way
forward. The Board rest assure everyone that the League will commence
on the 22nd of October 2022 as previously communicated,” the BFL’s statement reads.
Sudden resignation
Official correspondence from the BFL suggests that the league season is set to start this weekend (October 22). The sudden news of Ramochotlwane’s resignation sent shock waves across the local football fraternity with the football body facing mounting pressure to attract or announce a new title sponsor.
The BFL gained autonomy in 2020 to operate as an independent entity. One of the perks of being an independent body is to negotiate sponsorship and broadcasting deals without relying on the assistance of the Botswana Football Association. So far, it appears the BFL is yet to close a deal with a new title sponsor for the league. The last time the league had a title sponsor was in 2020 under the BTC Premiership sponsorship.
Club licensing issues remain the scourge of local clubs with up to eight teams said to be struggling to come to terms with the strict requirements. The BFL’s mandate is to transform football and help local clubs transition from being society ran organisations to private companies. Barely a week ago BFA president Maclean Letshwiti warned league clubs about adhering to club licensing rules. Letshwiti also urged the BFL to keep their house in order as he underlined how that would be beneficial if they are to attract sponsors.
Founding CEO
Ramochotlhwane was named as the then newly formed BFL’s founding CEO in May 2021. As the BFL launched last year he sat alongside then chairman Aryl Ralebala to brief the media about the newly developed league expected to transform local football. Both Ralebala and Ramochotlhwane have now left their posts less than two years into the league body’s existence.