The Botswana Football League (BFL) is grappling with severe financial difficulties as the season nears its conclusion, with three matches still remaining. Sources close to the Lekidi football center reveal that the league office has failed to pay staff salaries for April, as it scrambles to find alternative funding.
This is not the first time the league has faced such challenges. Last December, salary payments were also delayed, with Jwaneng Galaxy and Sua Flamingoes stepping in to provide crucial support. Despite these setbacks, the Premier League office, led by Idah Moinisi, remains active in seeking partnerships to rescue the struggling organization. “We had a meeting with the gambling authority (GA) this week, but the meeting was fruitful and we are hoping they will help us,” said a source within Lekidi.
WeekendSport has learned that the recent meeting, held this past Monday, was prompted by the intervention of the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Tiroyaone Ntsima, who referred the league office to the Gambling Authority for assistance in stabilizing the financial crisis.
Adding to the turmoil, Premier League referees have threatened to boycott upcoming matches. They submitted a letter to the league secretariat stating that they have not received payments for matches from week 16 to week 26, a total of 10 games. The letter also notes that referees in the First Division have not been paid for any games from the season’s start through week 21. As a result, they have agreed to boycott the remaining fixtures until all outstanding payments, including transport allowances, are settled.
This publication has previously reported on the league’s ongoing financial struggles. The secretariat has openly acknowledged severe cash-flow issues, fueling frustration and concern across the FNB Premiership.
In an effort to plug the financial gap, the BFL has mandated that all 16 Premier League teams contribute 10 percent of their gross gate receipts per match. This temporary cost-sharing measure aims to keep the league afloat amid mounting pressures.
The financial strain has been building for months. In August, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) provided a short-term loan of P500,000 to cover immediate administrative expenses, a lifeline that prevented the season from collapsing.