The Botswana Premier League wishes to apologise to all football lovers, sponsors and other stakeholders for the unfortunate incidents of violence that marred yesterday’s match between Township Rollers and Tafic FC at the University of Botswana Stadium last night.
The BPL further wishes to emphasise that it does not condone acts of violence and/or hooliganism of any sort at or anywhere nearer its events and activities. As the custodians of elite football in the country, the BPL deeply regrets the incidents of yesterday that if left unaddressed have the potential to damage the good name of Botswana football and give an impression that the local elite league is a free for all where players, officials and spectators alike can do as they please.
The BPL therefore wishes to assure all football lovers, sponsors, partners and other stakeholders of its commitment to law and order at all its activities as evidenced by the strong presence of state security organs and private security at all its matches, including the Township Rollers/Tafic match of yesterday, and that efforts will continue to be made to make the BPL product exciting and attractive to football lovers across the country.
Following yesterday’s incident, the BPL will stop at nothing to bring the perpetrators to book within the precincts of the BFA Play Rules and Regulations and such other statutes as relevant. The BPL has always regarded and continues to regard Football as a sport that is governed by rules and regulations where all those involved should as best as possible conform to the set rules, Laws of the Game and to such other statutes that ensure stability of the game and at the very least uphold the value of Fair Play as espoused by the world football motherbody, FIFA.
The BPL therefore assures all football stakeholders of its commitment to making sure that such ugly incidents do not rear their faces again in Botswana football and trusts that this isolated incident would not deter football lovers from continuing to throng football stadiums around the country during BPL matches. The BPL appeals to all to do their part in making premier league football as attractive as all Batswana would like to see it.
Thank you.
