Botswana Premier League- where the best football teams in Botswana gather

Most of the national football association features the highest tier as the Premier League, hence the name. Botswana is a Southern African country that also has its own Premier League. In this article, let’s accompany betimate to find out what the Botswana Premier League is about. 

What is Botswana Premier League

Botswana Premier League is the top-flight football competition in Botswana. It was created in 1978 to substitute the former professional football league in Botswana, the Bechuanaland Union African Soccer League. 

Since 2010, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (abbreviated as BTC) has been the main sponsor for this league. Therefore, the Botswana Premier League is currently also known as the BTC Premiership. 

Earlier, from 1991 to 2001, the league was called the Castle Super League due to the Castle Lager sponsorship. In the period of 2002-05, 2006-08, and 2009-13, St Louis, MASCOM, and be Mobile were the sponsors of the Botswana Premier League respectively.

Botswana Premier League logo

The league’s format

The Botswana Premier League comprises 16 teams gathered every year from August to May to bring out the best team for the championship. A true round-robin format is held, in which each team competes with the other teams twice, once home and once away. 

Thereby, each club will have to join 30 games in total. By winning a match, they will receive three points, one point in case of a draw, and zero points if they lose the match. By the end of the season, teams are ranked based on their aggregate points. 

In case there are several participants who end up equal in points, the tie-breakers have been used since the 2005-06 season. Accordingly, the criteria below will be applied in the following order to break the tie:

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

The eventual winner of the Botswana Premier League will receive a slot in the CAF Confederation Cup while the bottom three clubs are relegated to the Botswana First Division North and Botswana First Division South. 

Titles by clubs

Currently, Township Rollers is considered the most successful team in the Botswana Premier League with 16 times lifting the trophy, more than double of the second-strongest team, the Botswana Defence Force XI with seven times being the champion. 

Township Rollers FC

Top scorers in the history of the Botswana Premier League

Taking a look at the table above, we can see that Terrence Mandaza from Township Rollers is the player with the most goals (31) in a season of Botswana Premier League. It’s quite easy to understand because Township Rollers is supposed to be the most successful team in league history, that’s why this club features the best player who scored the most in a single season of the competition.

Where to watch the Botswana Premier League

The Botswana Television (BTV) is the main broadcaster that shows the prestigious Botswana Premier League in this country, along with its radio partner Radio Botswana (RB1). 

Botswana Premier League moment

2020-2021 Botswana Premier League

The 2020-21 Botswana Premier League is the 56th season of the league, however, it has been suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in this country.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana_Premier_League

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_Botswana_Premier_League