The 2023–24 Botswana Premier League season was the 46th season of the Botswana Premier League, the top-tier football league in Botswana, since its establishment in 1966. The season started in October 2023.[1] Jwaneng Galaxy FC are the current title holders from the 2022-23 season.[2][3]
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Jwaneng Galaxy 3rd title |
| Relegated | Eleven Angels Police XI Holy Ghost |
| Champions League | Jwaneng Galaxy |
| Confederation Cup | Orapa United |
| Top goalscorer | Thabang Sesinyi (15 goals) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
This season was intended to see four teams relegated instead of the usual two, with only two teams going up from the second tier, namely the Botswana First Division North and Botswana First Division South. This iwas due to an intended league re-structuring from the BFA who were planning to decrease the amount of teams from 16 to 12.[4] However, the re-structuring was delayed, and the 2024–25 Botswana Premier League also started with 16 teams.
League Changes
editNewly promoted teams included TAFIC, who won the Botswana First Division North, Matebele FC, the champion of the Botswana First Division South, and VTM FC whom beat Chadibe after a 6-5 penalty victory to ensure promotion.[5][6]
They replaced Prisons XI, Extension Gunners, and Mogoditshane Fighters, who were relegated after the 2022–23 season.
Additionally, a rule change was carried out by the BFA. Before, only international players could be signed when they had played 3 caps for their country. However, after Township Rollers signed three South African players who did not follow the requirements, plus more criticism among the public and football pundits, the BFA decided to withdraw the rule for the 2023/24 season. However, they will start a process to further develop the amendments and rules of the Botswana Premier League.[7][8]
Teams
edit| Club | City / Town | Position in 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| BDF XI | Gaborone | 10th |
| Eleven Angels | Francistown | 6th |
| Gaborone United | Gaborone | 2nd |
| Holy Ghost | Gaborone | 13th |
| Jwaneng Galaxy | Jwaneng | 1st |
| Masitaoka | Gaborone | 7th |
| Matebele FC | Matebeleng | Promoted |
| Morupule Wanderers | Palapye | 12th |
| Nico United | Selebi-Phikwe | 11th |
| Orapa United | Orapa | 3rd |
| Police XI | Otse | 9th |
| Security Systems | Otse | 5th |
| Sua Flamingoes | Sowa | 8th |
| TAFIC | Francistown | Promoted |
| Township Rollers | Gaborone | 4th |
| VTM FC | Gaborone | Promoted |
Stadiums and locations
edit
League Table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jwaneng Galaxy (C) | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 45 | 17 | +28 | 65[a] | Qualification for the Champions League |
| 2 | Township Rollers | 30 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 52 | 16 | +36 | 64[a] | |
| 3 | Gaborone United | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 50 | 20 | +30 | 63 | |
| 4 | Security Systems | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 39 | 40 | −1 | 44[a] | |
| 5 | TAFIC | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 38[a] | |
| 6 | VTM | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 37[a] | |
| 7 | Sua Flamingoes | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 36 | 32 | +4 | 36[a] | |
| 8 | BDF XI | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 36[a] | |
| 9 | Masitaoka | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 29 | −4 | 36[a] | |
| 10 | Orapa United | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 32[a] | Qualification for the Confederation Cup[b] |
| 11 | Matebele | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 32 | 36 | −4 | 32[a] | |
| 12 | Nico United | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 27 | 33 | −6 | 32[a] | |
| 13 | Morupule Wanderers | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 30[a] | |
| 14 | Eleven Angels (R) | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 28 | 44 | −16 | 25[a] | Relegation to First Division North or First Division South |
| 15 | Police XI (R) | 30 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 42 | −19 | 24[a] | |
| 16 | Holy Ghost (R) | 30 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 50 | −30 | 23[a] |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Fifteen clubs were penalized when Week 13 and 14 matches were not played. As a result, there are more losses than wins. The boycott was due to a controversial downsizing plan. As result, the participating teams were awarded three points and two goals for each affected match, while the boycotting teams were given zero points and zero goals for each match involved, and all Week 13 and 14 games are not played. Teams that received points (in parentheses): Gaborone United (6), Security Systems (3), VTM (3). Teams with their number of losses (in parentheses): BDF (2), Eleven Angels (2), Holy Ghost (2), Jwaneng Galaxy (2), Masitaoka (2), Matebele (2), Morupule Wanderers (2), Nico United (2), Orapa United (2), Police (2), Sua Flamingoes (2), TAFIC (2), Township Rollers (2), Security Systems (1), VTM (1).[9][10][11]
- ^ Orapa United qualified for the Confederation Cup as the 2024 FA Challenge Cup runners-up, since the FA Challenge Cup winners Jwaneng Galaxy has already qualified for the CAF Champions League as Premier League champions.
References
edit- ^ Boranabi, Kabelo (2023-07-22). "League to kick off in September". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ Boranabi, Kabelo (2023-06-10). "BPL needs additional P5m". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "Botswana 2023/24". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ Staff Writer (2023-07-06). "Sebego baffled by Premier League's decision to downsize". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ Dube, Chakalisa (2023-05-08). "TAFIC back to Premier League". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ Makhaiza, Larona (2023-06-05). "VTM edge Chadibe FC to secure promotion". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ Boranabi, Mqondisi Dube,Kabelo (2023-07-20). "BFA to decide on foreign players rule". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Staff Writer (2023-07-21). "BFA withdraws controversial regulations". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "GU winner as teams lose points for January 'revolt'". Mmegi. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Lemogang, Naledi (15 May 2024). "Boycotters lose points over un-played matches". Guardian Sun. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "BPL punishes clubs for no show". Botswana Daily News. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.