Botswana Premier League


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. Participants in the first edition of the league included Tlokweng Pirates, Notwane, Black Peril, Queens Park Rangers and a team from Ngwaketse district.
The league has been dominated by teams from the southern part of the country. In the 2006–07 season, Ecco City Greens became the first team from the north to lift the competition.

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:
PeriodSponsorNameReference
1991 to 2001Kgalagadi Breweries LimitedCastle Super League
2002 to 2005Kgalagadi Breweries LimitedSt Louis Premiership
2006 to 2008MascomMascom Premiership
2009 to 2014Botswana Telecommunications Corporationbe Mobile Premiership
2014 to 2020Botswana Telecommunications CorporationBTC Premiership
2024 to presentFNB BotswanaBotswana Premier 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.
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 :
  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 and its radio partner Radio Botswana. 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.

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.

Current season clubs (2024−25)

ClubCity / TownPosition in 2023-24
BDF XIGaborone7th
ChadibeChadibePromoted
Extension GunnersLobatsePromoted
Gaborone UnitedGaborone3rd
Jwaneng GalaxyJwaneng1st
Matebele FCMatebeleng11th
Mochudi Centre ChiefsMochudiPromoted
Morupule WanderersPalapye13th
Nico UnitedSelebi-Phikwe12th
Orapa UnitedOrapa10th
Security SystemsOtse4th
Sua FlamingoesSowa9th
TAFICFrancistown5th
Township RollersGaborone2nd
Union Flamengo SantosGabanePromoted
VTM FCGaborone6th

Champions

Previous champions are:
YearsWinnerManager
1966Unknown-
1967Gaborone United -
1968Champion unknown-
1969Gaborone United -
1970Gaborone United -
1971–1977Champions unknown-
1978Notwane FC -
1979Township Rollers Zaire

Qualification for CAF competitions

Association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF Champions League and the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2020–21 to the 2024–25 season.
;LegendCL: CAF Champions LeagueCC: CAF Confederation Cup≥: Associations points might increase on basis of its clubs performance in 2024–25 CAF club competitions
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