Local football could be on the verge of securing one of its biggest commercial deals in recent years as South African businessman Zunaid Moti’s African Hero initiative is understood to be closing in on a sponsorship agreement for the Elite Top 8 competition.
News & All Sports has learnt that African Hero is expected to be unveiled as the tournament’s headline sponsor, ending a sponsorship vacuum that has existed since Mascom withdrew from the competition after the 2019-20 season.
While neither the Botswana Football Association (BFA) nor African Hero has formally confirmed the agreement, multiple sources familiar with the negotiations say discussions are at an advanced stage and a formal announcement is imminent.
The organisation attracted public attention earlier this month when a school built under its programmes in Block 7, Gaborone, was officially opened by President Duma Boko.
The negotiations have reportedly been facilitated by sports marketing agency Thomas Hall Media. The company was appointed by the BFA to source commercial partners for local football. Sources say the sponsorship could form part of a major commercial package worth close to P10 million.
The prospective deal would mark Moti’s first significant move into Botswana football through African Hero, a recently launched initiative focused on education, healthcare, skills development and community upliftment.
The organisation attracted public attention earlier this month when a school built under its programmes in Block 7, Gaborone, was officially opened by President Duma Boko.
Its expected entry into football would broaden its presence in Botswana while providing a significant commercial boost to one of the country’s flagship knockout competitions.
Losing semi-finalists will each earn P200,000 and clubs eliminated in the quarter-finals will take home P100,000 apiece. The competition brings together eight of the country’s leading clubs.
The BFA has previously acknowledged ongoing sponsorship discussions but has declined to identify potential partners before agreements are finalised. Association president Tariq Babitseng recently said negotiations were progressing positively. “The negotiations are ongoing and we are confident as the association. The details we get from our agent are that the deal will be closed soon,” Babitseng said. The BFA has made commercial growth a central pillar of its strategy as it seeks to strengthen football’s financial sustainability and attract greater private-sector investment into the game.
The winners are expected to receive P1.5 million, while the runners-up will pocket P750,000.
Losing semi-finalists will each earn P200,000 and clubs eliminated in the quarter-finals will take home P100,000 apiece. The competition brings together eight of the country’s leading clubs.
