The country’s most lucrative football knockout competition is making a comeback after a six-year absence. The newly launched African Hero Top 8 offers a total prize purse of P4 million, including P1.5 million for the eventual champions.
The tournament, last played as the Mascom Top 8 in 2020, returns on October 23 with eight Premier League sides competing for what remains one of the most sought-after trophies in domestic football.
For years, the competition’s absence left a gap in the local football calendar as efforts to secure a new sponsor failed to materialise. That changed when African Hero stepped in to revive the tournament and restore a competition long regarded as a showcase of Botswana’s elite clubs.
Speaking at the launch, acting Botswana Football League (BFL) chief executive Idah Moinisi described the return as the revival of an important football institution.
“Great sporting traditions do not just disappear. They simply wait for the right moment to return,” Moinisi said.
“This is not merely the revival of a football competition. It represents the return of a prestigious national property. It is the restoration of a proud football tradition and the beginning of a new chapter in Botswana football,” she said.
She said the tournament’s return represented more than the resumption of a competition.
“This is not merely the revival of a football competition. It represents the return of a prestigious national property. It is the restoration of a proud football tradition and the beginning of a new chapter in Botswana football,” she said.
The financial incentives are substantial. The champions will collect P1.5 million after playing just three matches, while the runners-up will receive P750,000.
The two losing semi-finalists will each earn P200,000, while teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will take home P100,000 apiece.
Individual awards will also be on offer. The Player of the Tournament will receive P50,000, the Coach of the Tournament P30,000 and the Goalkeeper of the Tournament P25,000.
The Young Player of the Tournament will earn P20,000, while the Referee, Assistant Referee and Supporter of the Tournament categories each carry prize money of P15,000.
The inaugural African Hero Top 8 features some of the country’s most successful clubs, including Township Rollers, Gaborone United, Orapa United and Jwaneng Galaxy. Between them, the four clubs have won eight of the nine previous editions of the competition.
The BFL has also secured a number of commercial partners for the tournament. Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) joins as Official Connectivity Partner, Umbro as Technical Sponsor, Botswana Television as Broadcast Partner and Cresta Lodge as Accommodation Partner.
The opening round fixtures pit Gaborone United against Nico United, Sua Flamingoes against Orapa United and Mochudi Centre Chiefs against Morupule Wanderers.
The standout tie, however, is expected to be the clash between two-time champions Jwaneng Galaxy and Township Rollers, two of Botswana football’s most decorated sides.
The BFL has also secured a number of commercial partners for the tournament. Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) joins as Official Connectivity Partner, Umbro as Technical Sponsor, Botswana Television as Broadcast Partner and Cresta Lodge as Accommodation Partner.
The Botswana National Sports Commission will provide stadium facilities for the competition.
