First National Bank of Botswana (FNBB) is stepping up its involvement in local football, rolling out a financial literacy and capacity-building programme aimed at clubs and sports media within the FNB Premiership.
The initiative, held in Gaborone on 24–25 March 2026, brought together stakeholders from across the football ecosystem through two sessions: a club engagement with team representatives and a media engagement involving sports journalists and practitioners.
While the bank is best known as the title sponsor of the Botswana Premier League, the latest effort is another strategy to position itself as a developmental partner in the sport. Central to both sessions was a focus on financial literacy and fraud awareness, areas the bank views as critical to the long-term sustainability of football institutions.
“We are deliberate about going beyond sponsorship because we recognise that football is an ecosystem made up of clubs, players, administrators and the media. Our role is to contribute meaningfully to its sustainability,” said Boga Chilinde-Masebu.
FNB Botswana specialists led practical sessions on financial management, tailored to the operational realities of football clubs and the working environment of sports media. The media engagement also included a workshop led by an experienced journalist, aimed at strengthening storytelling and improving coverage of the domestic game.
“We are deliberate about going beyond sponsorship because we recognise that football is an ecosystem made up of clubs, players, administrators and the media. Our role is to contribute meaningfully to its sustainability,” said Boga Chilinde-Masebu.
She added that financial literacy remains a cornerstone of the bank’s approach. “When clubs are financially informed, they are better positioned to manage resources, support players and build institutions that can stand the test of time. The same applies to media practitioners who influence public perception and industry credibility,” she said.
The programme forms part of a wider push by FNB Botswana to deepen its engagement in local football beyond financial backing. By focusing on skills development and knowledge transfer, the bank aims to help professionalise the sport and strengthen its institutional foundations.
