BPL HOSTS BTC PREMIERSHIP AWARDS AMID UNCERTAINTIES

BY:Kabelo Seleka

GABORONE:Botswana Premier League(BPL) successfully hosted 2018/2019 season BTC Premiership Awards amid rumors that the night with the stars event of glitz and glamour where the best performers are recognized and celebrated would not be staged.

The BTC Premiership awards ceremony was held today on a low cost stage powered by Cresta Hotel.

Outgoing Jwaneng Galaxy wonder boy Thero Setsile emerged the star of the night as he matched away with three individual trophies for Player of the Season, Players Player of the Season and Top Goal scorer.

BTC PREMIERSHIP AWARDS UNATTRACTIVE

The BTC Premiership Awards ceremony had no crowd pulling entertainers,no television live broadcast and no BTC delegate available to stage a speech as usual.Furthermore,tickets were not sold for the night as there we no spectators(fans) of the awards.

It was reported in the media that the tittle sponsor BTC was unhappy with the level of professionalism by the local elite footballing organ.BTC also decreed  Botswana Television(BTV)’s failure to televise agreed matches and multiple foreshadowing  fixtures changes resulting in the sponsor not coming to party.

The reports were ignited by a mere fact that last season the BPL failed to host the awards ceremony and price winners were gifted their prices directly from their offices.

A source close to the events has lamented that BTC has indicated since last season that they can no longer afford the award ceremony.The source further elaborated that they had to make them small rather than not at all. BTC only afforded BPL with trophies and price money.

“Btc has indicated that they cannot afford the BPL awards ceremony,however they provided the trophies for the night.”Said the source.

In his remarks at the BPL awards ceremony,BFA President McClean Letshwiti warned the attendees that the way football is operated in Botswana is not sustainable.

Letshwiti noted that sponsors will never be happy for as long as they do not get return for their investments. Letshwiti called on BPL teams Chairpersons to move along with times to meet club licence requirements and professionalism football.

“The way we run our football,whether we can sustain ourselves or not,if we are going to run it otherwise,we are not going to sustain ourselves.”Alluded Letshwiti.

For his part,BPL Chairman Jagdish Shah assured the FA President that they are in the final phase of finalizing the privatization model of the premier league following the unprofessional conduct in the league for a while.The motion will be presented at the next BFA AGM.

The 2019/2020 BPL season is slated to start in August.
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BTC PREMIERSHIP AWARDS CREDENTIALS

COACH OF THE SEASON – Miguel Da Costa (Jwaneng Galaxy) – P30,000.00
REFEREE OF THE SEASON – Keabetswe Dintwe – P15,000.00
ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE SEASON -Oookeditse Keitseope (P15,000.00)
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON – Bakang ‘Mjapane’ Leshona (Mochudi Centre Chiefs) – P15,000.00
TOP GOAL SCORER (18 GOALS)-Thero ‘Mahachi’ (Jwaneng Galaxy) – P50,000.00
GOALKEEPER OF THE SEASON -Ezekiel Morake (Jwaneng Galaxy) – P20,000.00
PAYERS PLAYER OF THE SEASON – Thero ‘Mahachi’ Setsile (Jwaneng Galaxy) – P50,000.00
PLAYER OF THE SEASON – Thero ‘Mahachi’ Setsile (Jwaneng Galaxy) -P100,000.00
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD – Joshua ‘The Sprinter’ Bondo
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS – Township Rollers (P1,300,000.00)