The Botswana Premier League is the highest level football league in Botswana. Organised by the Botswana Football Association, the league was formed in 1978 to replace the pre-independence Bechuanaland Union African Soccer League, which was regional.^[1] Participants in the first edition of the league included Tlokweng Pirates, Notwane, Black Peril, Queens Park Rangers and a team from Ngwaketse district.^[1]

The league has always been dominated by the teams that are based south of Dibete or in the southern part of the country. In the 2006–07 season, Ecco City Greens made history by becoming the first team from the north to lift the lucrative competition. The league is sponsored by a mobile phone operator Be Mobile to the tune of 30 million pula. After the ABSA premiership in South Africa, the Be Mobile league is the second highest sponsored league in the COSAFA region. The league has continued to grow in leaps and bounds as shown by the increasing number of foreign players in the BPL. Some top players from mainly Zimbabwe like Arnold Chaka, Master Masitara, Elvis Meleka, Mandla Sibanda, Sageby Sandaka and Tendai Ndoro have ditched the Zimbabwean PSL for the BPL in recent years. Recently Namibian stars like Jerome Luis and Benson Shilongo arrived in Botswana in search of the Pula. After terminating their television deal with a South African company RP Productions, the league is now negotiating a long-term deal with Supersport International. In early 2013, the pay TV shown five BPL games on a testing basis.^{[citation needed]}

The Botswana Football League as of July 2023 announced plans to reduce the amount of teams from 16 to 12.^[2] In the 2023–24 season, 4 teams will be relegated with only 2 promoting. The following season, 2024–25, the same will be applied which leaves 12 teams in the Botswana Premier League. The main given reason is the contricted resources.

Sponsorship

Since the 1980s, the Botswana Premier League has had title sponsors. The list below details who the sponsors were and what they called the league:

Format

During the league, from August to May, each club plays each of the other teams twice; once at home and once away, totaling 30 games for each team by the end of the season. Therefore, in Botswana football a true round-robin format is used. In the first half of the season, each team plays once against each league opponent, for a total of 15 games. In the second half of the season, the teams play in exactly the same order that they did in the first half of the season, the only difference being that home and away situations are switched. Since the 1994–95 season, teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Since Botswana is lowly ranked in the CAF rankings only one CAF Champions League spot is awarded to the league champions. The cup winners gain a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.^{[citation needed]}

Since the 2005–06 season if two or more teams end the league with the same number of points, the deciding tie-breakers used are (in order):

1. Head-to-head records;
2. Goal difference of head-to-head records;
3. Goal difference of league;
4. Most goals for in league;
5. Draw

Broadcasting rights

Starting from 2002–03 until 2012–13 the broadcasting rights were held by the state broadcaster Botswana Television (BTV) and its radio partner Radio Botswana (RB1). P5 million per season were paid for the rights. Broadcasting of the games was irregular as the TV showed majority of games played in and around Gaborone citing poor quality stadiums in the north. Two weekend games are shown live on TV, with midweek games being delayed.^{[citation needed]}

SuperSport deal

In 2013 there was major excitement when South African broadcasting giant entered the local market. The deal saw the state broadcaster temporarily losing the rights, as a few games were shown on pay-per-view. However it was short lived as SuperSport and the BFA parted their ways. Broadcasting resumed normally on BTV and RB1.^{[citation needed]}

Hourlies

Since 1980 all BPL games have been played at the same times. On Saturday most are played 15:00 pm CAT on winter and 16:00 pm CAT in summer. Few games are played at night due to poor lighting in most stadiums. In Sunday all games are played at 15:00 pm CAT or 16:00 pm CAT depending on the season.

Most in midweek games are played at 19:00 pm CAT.^{[citation needed]}

Current season clubs (2023−24)

Champions

Previous champions are:^[6]

Past seasons

Manager records

League winning managers

Season	Winner	Manager
1979	Township Rollers	Chibaso Kande
1980	Township Rollers	Chibaso Kande
1982	Township Rollers	Chibaso Kande
1983	Township Rollers	Chibaso Kande
1984	Township Rollers	Chibaso Kande
1985	Township Rollers	Chibaso Kande
1986	Gaborone United	Thomas Johnson
1987	Township Rollers	Ezekiel Mpofu
1990	Gaborone United	Arthur James
1999	Mogoditshane Fighters	David Bright
1999–2000	Mogoditshane Fighters	David Bright
2000–01	Mogoditshane Fighters	David Bright
2004–05	Township Rollers	Banks Panene
2005–06	Police XI	Sthandwa Mogwadi
2007–08	Mochudi Centre Chiefs	Beston Chambeshi
2008–09	Gaborone United	Mike Sithole
2009–10	Township Rollers	Rahman Gumbo
2010–11	Township Rollers	Wesley Mondo
2011–12	Mochudi Centre Chiefs	Madinda Ndlovu
2012–13	Mochudi Centre Chiefs	Madinda Ndlovu
2013–14	Township Rollers	Madinda Ndlovu
2015–16	Township Rollers	Mark Harrison
2016–17	Township Rollers	Mogomotsi Mpote
2017–18	Township Rollers	Nikola Kavazovic
2018–19	Township Rollers	Rodolfo Zapata
2019–20	Jwaneng Galaxy	Miguel da Costa
2021-22	Gaborone United	Innocent Morapedi
2022-23	Jwaneng Galaxy	Morena Ramoreboli

Coach of the Season

Season	Winner	Team
2007–08	Mike Sithole	Gaborone United
2011–12	Daniel Nare	BMC
2012–13	Madinda Ndlovu	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
2015–16	Mark Harrison	Township Rollers
2016–17	Mogomotsi Mpote	Township Rollers
2017–18	Nikola Kavazovic	Township Rollers
2018–19	Rodolfo Zapata	Township Rollers
2019–20	Miguel da Costa	Jwaneng Galaxy

Performance By Club

Topscorers

Year	Best scorers	Team	Goals
2005–06	Malepa Bolelang	ECCO City Greens	24
2006–07	Pontsho Moloi	Mochudi Centre Chiefs	22
2007–08	Master Masitara Jerome Ramatlhakwane	Nico United Mochudi Centre Chiefs	18
2008–09	Master Masitara	Nico United	27
2009–10	Terrence Mandaza	Township Rollers	31
2011–12	Pontsho Moloi	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
2012–13	Pontsho Moloi	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
2013–14	Patrick Kaunda	FC Satmos	20
2014–15	Lemponye Tshireletso	Mochudi Centre Chiefs	15
2015–16	Tendai Nyamadzawo	Gilport Lions	19
2016–17	Terrence Mandaza	Township Rollers	17
2017–18	Thatayaone Kgamanyane	Gaborone United	20
2018–19	Thero Setsile	Jwaneng Galaxy	18
2021–22	Thabang Sesinyi	Jwaneng Galaxy	24
2022–23	Omaatla Kebatho	Orapa United	23

Player of the Season

Year	Player of the Season	Team
2005–06	Moemedi Moatlhaping	Township Rollers
2006–07	Malepa Bolelang	ECCO City Greens
2007–08	Oteng Moalosi	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
2008–09	Joseph Phetogo	Gaborone United
2009–10	Kabelo Dambe	Township Rollers
2013–14	Mwampule Masule	Township Rollers
2014–15	Lesego Galenamotlhale	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
2017–18	Edwin Moalosi	Township Rollers
2018–19	Thero Setsile	Jwaneng Galaxy

Team locations

Stadiums and locations

Gaborone United
Masitaoka
Prisons XI
VTM FC
Township Rollers
BDF XI
Holy Ghost

Jwaneng Galaxy

Orapa United

Police XI
Security Systems

Eleven Angels
TAFIC

Morupule Wanderers

Matebele FC

Nico United

SUA Flamingoes

Locations of teams in the 2023–24 Botswana Premier League