Botswana Football Association had originally directed all football activities to be suspended. In a bid to continue being observant to advice from the government and Ministry of Health and Wellness the status has not changed.
League Status
When the State of Emergency was declared the elite league (BTC Premiership) was on week 20. Both First division North and South were left with four rounds to complete the season. Various leagues in the regions were also on the final stages of completion.
There are options depending on the guidance by health professionals on when sport can resume.
1) The BFA-NEC wishes to state that the intention is to play all the leagues and games to finality. This will be done when it is conducive to gather and play football as per the government guidelines.
2) Should it be not viable to complete the leagues the season will be cancelled and declared null and void. This will also be guided by the health authorities’ advice. It will mean no winners and or relegation as per strict adherence to the BFA and FIFA rules.
3) The leagues maybe stopped where they are, and log leaders be declared as per current standings. The same will apply to the relegation and this will all be done as a last resort having exhausted all the options.
4) Whilst all these options are being considered it must be noted that the BFA is not in a hurry to risk lives and or resume activity against the government advice. There is an option to use the COVID-19 challenge to change the football season from the current one to the February to November calendar. This will be in line with the current CAF season.
This will also assist in implementing a long-standing resolution to change the season to a more suitable and medically recommended one. Medical experts have long advised that it is more convenient to play football during winter as compared to high extreme temperatures experienced during the months of November to January.
FA CUP
The (Orange) FA Cup was at the quarter-final stage when everything was suspended. Like in the League the main priority is to play to finality. All this will be determined by the advice of the health authorities. In the eventually all this is not achieved, the local organising committee will decide on the way forward.
WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING
All scheduled training in different fields will also remain suspended until further notice. A new guideline will be shared with all the stakeholders like in the above scenarios.
We urge the football family to adhere to all the advice from the health authorities and wait to come and cheer their beloved teams once again when sanity prevails.
