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Players to get three months salary subsidies – MYSC

May 18, 2020

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC), Tumiso Rakgare has today, Monday 18th revealed the government’s plan to help the elite and second-tier leagues with player’s salary subsidies respectively.

Speaking in Gaborone at Mass Media Complex on daily updates by the government’s departments on coronavirus relief mitigations, Rakgare said the 25 players of all the 16 teams in the BTC premiership will be paid P2, 500 whilst first division players get P1, 500 for the months of April to June accordingly.

“Sports was the first discipline to be affected by Covid-19 as we can remember when the Mares Under 17 were denied their travel to Morocco for a return leg of the FIFA world cup qualifier in March. So, therefore the government will be assisting the players with salaries for three months. The subsidy is only for Batswana players, technical and office staff. The teams are still be obligated to pay salaries of their players, this is just a subsidy”, noted Rakgare.

Quizzed about the procedure of the subsidy, Rakgare said the ministry will this week ask teams to submit the required documentation for verification and due processes.

“The monies will be directly deposited to player’s bank accounts to avoid situations where teams might use such funds for their daily expenses”.

Rakgare further singled out referees will be assisted through the FIFA relief fund as agreed with Botswana Football Association (BFA).
The player’s subsidy is part of the P70 million set aside by the ministry to mitigate the novel coronavirus impacts.

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Botswana and Algeria Strengthen Sports Ties, with Football Development in Focus

Francistown, Botswana – The Honourable Minister of Sport & Arts, Mr. Jacob Kelebeng, recently welcomed a courtesy visit from Honourable Walid Sadi, Algeria’s Minister of Youth & Sports, along with His Excellency Ambassador Abdelmalek Tigharhar of Algeria.

The discussions centered on fostering collaboration between the two nations in sports development, with particular emphasis on Paralympics, football, boxing, and athletics. This engagement presents valuable opportunities for Botswana to benefit from Algeria’s advanced sporting infrastructure, training programs, and technical expertise.

As part of the visit, Honourable Sadi also met with BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng, alongside Minister Kelebeng. Discussions highlighted Algeria’s well-established football development structures, coaching programs, and talent identification pathways, which could serve as a benchmark for Botswana’s football growth strategy.

BFA President Emphasizes Football Development

Speaking on the significance of the engagement, BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that Botswana stands to gain valuable insights from Algeria’s football model.

“Football development remains a key priority for the BFA, and this engagement allows us to benchmark against one of Africa’s leading football nations. Algeria’s structured approach to grassroots football, coaching development, and high-performance training presents a great learning opportunity for Botswana. We are excited about the potential collaborations that will enhance our football structures and elevate the sport in the country,” said Babitseng.

The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ms. Nancy Chengeta of the Ministry of Sport & Arts (MOSA), along with key sports leadership figures, including:

✅ BNSC Chairperson: Mr. Marumo Morule

✅ BNSC CEO: Mr. Tuelo D. Serufho

✅ BNSC Executive Management

✅ Botswana Football Association (BFA) Executives

✅ Various dignitaries and stakeholders

The BFA remains committed to building strategic international partnerships that contribute to the growth, professionalization, and long-term sustainability of football in Botswana.