The Botswana Premier League is the leading football tournament in Botswana, a country located in the southern part of the African continent. With the continuous development of football in Africa, this tournament has attracted the attention of many football fans around the world. In this article, SEAGames PH 2019 will learn about the Botswana Premier League football tournament, from its history, participation format, season schedule, latest rankings and special features of this tournament.
What is the Botswana Premier League?
The Botswana Premier League (also known as the BTC Premiership) is the leading football tournament in Botswana, organized by the Botswana Football Association (BFA). This tournament was founded in 1966 as the “National Football League” and then officially changed its name to the “Premier League” in 1992.
Since 2008, this tournament has been renamed “Premier League Botswana” and since 2015, the tournament has officially been named “BTC Premiership” after signing a sponsorship contract with the Botswana Power Corporation (BTC). This tournament has the participation of 16 teams from all provinces of Botswana.
History of formation and development of the Botswana Premier League football tournament
As mentioned above, the Botswana Premier League football tournament was established in 1966. However, it was not until 1992 that this tournament was officially renamed “Premier League”. In the first years, the tournament only had the participation of teams from the capital Gaborone and some neighboring provinces.
By 1977, the tournament had expanded nationwide and attracted the attention of many football fans. However, due to lack of investment capital and professional infrastructure, this tournament cannot develop as strongly as other football tournaments in the world.
It was not until 2008, when the tournament was renamed “Premier League Botswana”, that the development of football in Botswana really began. Young players are trained more professionally and teams also invest more in facilities and techniques. This has helped the tournament increasingly attract the attention of fans and become an attractive playground for talented young players.
Form of participation in the Botswana Premier League football tournament
The Botswana Premier League football tournament has the participation of 16 teams, including 14 teams that achieved the highest rankings in national tournaments and 2 teams relegated from the previous season. The tournament takes place in a round-robin format, with each team playing a total of 30 matches (15 home matches and 15 away matches).
After the end of the season, the team at the top of the rankings will become the champion of the tournament and have the opportunity to participate in continental tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations or the CAF Cup. The 2nd and 3rd ranked teams will also have the opportunity to participate in tournaments in Africa.
Latest rankings of the Botswana Premier League football tournament
Currently, the 2021/2022 season of the Botswana Premier League has ended and the Township Rollers have become champions after winning 3-0 against opponents Gaborone United in the final.
Below are the latest rankings of this tournament:
Teams participating in the Botswana Premier League football tournament
As mentioned above, the Botswana Premier League football tournament has the participation of 16 teams. Below is the list of teams participating in this tournament:
- Township Rollers
- Jwaneng Galaxy
- Orapa United
- Gaborone United
- Security Systems
- Miscellaneous
- Police XI
- Mochudi Center Chiefs
- Extension Gunners
- Newcastle FC
- BDF XI
- Prisons XI
- Sankoyo Bush Bucks
- BR Highlanders
- Sharps Shooting Stars
- Black Forest
Best player of the Botswana Premier League football tournament
Throughout the organizational history of the Botswana Premier League football tournament, there have been many outstanding players who have been honored and contributed to the success of the teams. However, there are some names that stand out more in this tournament.
One of them is player Mogakolodi Ngele, who won the title of best player of the tournament three times (2012, 2014 and 2015) while playing for the Township Rollers team. Ngele is also the player to score the most goals in a season with 20 goals in 2014.
In addition, player Mosha Gaolaolwe of Jwaneng Galaxy team was also honored as the best player of the tournament in 2019. With their impressive achievements, both Mogakolodi Ngele and Mosha Gaolaolwe were called up to the team. country of Botswana.
Best Coach of the Botswana Premier League
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Not only players, coaches also play an important role in the success of teams in the Botswana Premier League football tournament. Throughout the tournament’s history, there have been many outstanding coaches honored.
One of them is coach Madinda Ndlovu, who won the title of best coach in the tournament three times (2012, 2014 and 2015) while leading the Township Rollers football team. He is also the coach who has won the most titles in the history of this tournament.
Memorable records of the Botswana Premier League football tournament
Throughout the history of the Botswana Premier League, there have been many memorable records set. Below are some notable records of this tournament:
- Player with the most goals in a season: Mogakolodi Ngele (20 goals, 2014)
- Team that has won the championship most times: Township Rollers (15 times)
- Coach with most titles: Madinda Ndlovu (3 times)
- Team with most consecutive championships: Township Rollers (6 times, from 2016 to 2021)
Conclude
To summarize, the Botswana Premier League is the leading football tournament in Botswana and has the participation of 16 teams. With a history of formation and continuous development, this tournament has attracted the attention of many football fans around the world.
From the best players to the best coaches, the Botswana Premier League has made its mark in the hearts of football fans. Hopefully, this tournament will continue to develop and bring dramatic and exciting matches to fans in the future.