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: +PeriodSponsorNameReference1991 to 2001Kgalagadi Breweries LimitedCastle Super League2002 to 2005St Louis Premiership2006 to 2008MascomMascom Premiership2009 to 2014Botswana Telecommunications Corporationbe Mobile Premiership2014 to 2020BTC Premiership2024 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 (in order): Head-to-head records; Goal difference of head-to-head records; Goal difference of league; Most goals for in league; Draw
Broadcasting rights Starting from 2002–03 until 2012–13 the broadcasting rights were held by the state broadcaster Botswana Television (BTV) and its radio partner Radio Botswana (RB1). 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.
Champions Previous champions are: Years Winner Manager1966Unknown1967Gaborone United (1) 1968 Champion unknown1969 Gaborone United (2)1970 Gaborone United (3)1971–1977 Champions unknown1978 Notwane FC (1)1979 Township Rollers (1) Chibaso Kande1980 Township Rollers (2) Chibaso Kande1981 Botswana Defence Force XI (1)1982Township Rollers (3) Chibaso Kande1983Township Rollers (4) Chibaso Kande1984Township Rollers (5) Chibaso Kande1985Township Rollers (6) Chibaso Kande1986Gaborone United (4) Thomas Johnson1987 Township Rollers (7) Ezekiel Mpofu1988Botswana Defence Force XI (2)1989Botswana Defence Force XI (3)1990Gaborone United (5) Arthur James1991 Botswana Defence Force XI (4) 1992 LCS Extension Gunners (1)1993 LCS Extension Gunners (2)1994LCS Extension Gunners (3)1995 Township Rollers (8) 1996 Notwane FC (2) 1997Botswana Defence Force XI (5) 1998Notwane FC (3) Paul Moyo1999 Mogoditshane Fighters (1) David Bright2000 Mogoditshane Fighters (2) David Bright2001 Mogoditshane Fighters (3) David Bright2002 Botswana Defence Force XI (6) 2003 Mogoditshane Fighters (4)2004Botswana Defence Force XI (7) 2004–05Township Rollers (9) Banks Panene2005–06Police XI SC (1) Sthandwa Mogwadi2006–07ECCO City Green (1) 2007–08Mochudi Centre Chiefs (1) Beston Chambeshi2008–09Gaborone United (6) Mike Sithole2009–10Township Rollers (10) Rahman Gumbo2010–11Township Rollers (11) Wesley Mondo2011–12Mochudi Centre Chiefs (2) Madinda Ndlovu2012–13Mochudi Centre Chiefs (3) Madinda Ndlovu2013–14Township Rollers (12) Madinda Ndlovu2014–15Mochudo Centre Chiefs (4)2015–16Township Rollers (13) Mark Harrison2016–17Township Rollers (14) Mogomotsi Mpote 2017–18Township Rollers (15) Nikola Kavazovic2018–19Township Rollers (16) Rodolfo Zapata2019–20Jwaneng Galaxy FC (1) Miguel da Costa 2020–21Not finished2021–22Gaborone United (7) Innocent Morapedi2022–23Jwaneng Galaxy FC (2) Morena Ramoreboli2023–24Jwaneng Galaxy FC (3)2024–25Gaborone United (8) Dimitar Pantev2025–26Gaborone United (9)Sean Connor
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.
Legend CL: CAF Champions League CC: CAF Confederation Cup ≥: Associations points might increase on basis of its clubs performance in 2024–25 CAF club competitions
Rank Association 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 Total 2025 2024 Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC11 —837482.57710422 —469582245534 +182544341.59343 -1657165235556 +130.50234602465 -14351426130.578 +110502031.52287 -1400312402099 —30303020301011 +100010330121110 -100.50500.503001212 —02000202011315 +20000010210.51414 —00000013001513 -220102000.5001619 +30010001000.51721 +412000000011817 -100000020001918 -100010100.5002016 -40300.51000002122 +100000100002222 —000010000023- new0000000000.52420 -401.500.50000002524 -10000.50000002524 -1 0000.50000002726 -100.500000000
Past seasons Season Winner Runner-up Relegated at end of season Promoted at end of season1978Notwane1979Township Rollers1980Township Rollers1981BDF XIExtension Gunners1982Township Rollers1983Township Rollers1984Township Rollers1985Township Rollers1986Gaborone United1987Township Rollers1988BDF XIExtension GunnersCopper ChiefsKanye SwallowsTlokweng PiratesUniao Flamengo Santos1989BDF XI1990Gaborone UnitedMochudi Centre ChiefsNico United1991BDF XI1992LCS GunnersTAFICJwaneng CometsMogoditshane Fighters1993LCS GunnersGaborone UnitedMogoditshane FightersPrisons XIJwaneng Comets1994LCS GunnersTownship RollersPrisons XIWonder SportingMochudi Centre ChiefsJwaneng Comets1995Township Rollers1996Notwane PGMochudi Centre ChiefsTASCBoteti Young FightersMogoditshane FightersTAFIC1997BDF XIGaborone UnitedBMCNico UnitedMokgosi Young FightersTASC1998NotwaneBDF XITASCMokgosi Young FightersSatmosJwaneng Comets1998–99Mogoditshane FightersBDF XINo relegation1999–2000Mogoditshane FightersMochudi Centre ChiefsGaborone UnitedPrisons XIBotswana Meat CommissionTASC2000–01Mogoditshane FightersBDF XIBotswana Meat CommissionSatmos2001–02BDF XIMogoditshane FightersNico UnitedTownship Rollers2002–03Mogoditshane FightersPolice XI2003–04BDF XIPolice XIWonder SportingMochudi Center ChiefsNico UnitedGabane Santos2004–05Township RollersPolice XIUniao Flamengo SantosTAFICOrapa WanderersNaughty Boys2005–06Police XIBDF XIMogoditshane FightersNaughty BoysMosquitoJwaneng Comets2006–07ECCO City GreensMochudi Centre ChiefsPrisons XISatmos2007–08Mochudi Centre ChiefsGaborone UnitedTASCJwaneng Comets2008–09Gaborone UnitedMochudi Centre ChiefsMogoditshane FightersGreat North TigersNaughty BoysJwaneng CometsMotlakase Power Dynamos2009–10Township RollersMochudi Centre ChiefsKiller GiantsJwaneng CometsBoteti Young FightersTASC2010–11Township RollersMochudi Centre ChiefsTASCBlack Peril FCMogoditshane FightersSatmos2011–12Mochudi Centre ChiefsBotswana Meat CommissionNotwane F.C.Great North TigersSatmosMotlakasePrisons XIBR Highlanders2012–13Mochudi Centre ChiefsNico UnitedPrisons XIMogoditshane FightersBR Highlanders2013–14Township RollersBDF XI2014–15Mochudi Centre ChiefsOrapa United2015–16Township RollersMochudi Centre ChiefsMotlakase Power DynamosBR HighlandersSatmosBlack Forest2016–17Township RollersJwaneng GalaxyNico UnitedGreen LoversMahalapye United Hotspurs2017–18Township RollersJwaneng GalaxyTAFICUniao Flamengo SantosGilport LionsNotwaneBR HighlandersPrisons XI2018–19Township RollersJwaneng GalaxyMochudi Centre ChiefsBlack ForestSankoyo Bush BucksGilport LionsMorupule Wanderers FCTAFIC2019–20Jwaneng GalaxyTownship RollersTAFICMiscellaneousMasitaokaSua Flamingoes2020–21cancelled due COVID-192021–22Gaborone UnitedTownship RollersNotwane FCGilport LionsBotswana RailwaysEleven AngelsNico UnitedHoly Ghost2022–23Jwaneng GalaxyGaborone UnitedPrisons XIExtension GunnersMogoditshane FightersTAFIC FCMatebele FCVTM FC
Coach of the Season Season Winner Team 2007–08 Mike Sithole Gaborone United 2011–12 Daniel Nare BMC 2012–13 Madinda Ndlovu Mochudi Centre Chiefs 2015–16 Mark Harrison Township Rollers 2016–17 Mogomotsi Mpote Township Rollers 2017–18 Nikola Kavazovic Township Rollers 2018–19 Rodolfo Zapata Township Rollers 2019–20 Miguel da Costa Jwaneng Galaxy
Performance by club Club City Titles Last Title Township Rollers Gaborone 16 2018–19 Gaborone United Gaborone 9 2025–26 Botswana Defence Force XI Mogoditshane 7 2003–04 Mogoditshane Fighters Mogoditshane 4 2003 Mochudi Centre Chiefs Mochudi 4 2014–15 Extension Gunners Lobatse 3 1994 Notwane Gaborone 3 1998 Jwaneng Galaxy Jwaneng 3 2023–24 ECCO City Greens Francistown 1 2006–07 Police XI Otse 1 2005–06
Top goalscorers Season Goalscorer Team Goals2005–06 Malepa Bolelang ECCO City Green 242006–07 Pontsho Moloi Mochudi Centre Chiefs 222007–08 Master Masitara Jerome Ramatlhakwane Nico UnitedMochudi Centre Chiefs 182008–09 Master Masitara Nico United 272009–10 Terrence Mandaza Township Rollers 312011–12 Pontsho Moloi Mochudi Centre Chiefs 2012–13 Pontsho Moloi Mochudi Centre Chiefs 2013–14 Patrick Kaunda Satmos 202014–15 Lemponye Tshireletso Mochudi Centre Chiefs 152015–16 Tendai Nyamadzawo Gilport Lions 192016–17 Terrence Mandaza Township Rollers 17 2017–18 Thatayaone Kgamanyane Gaborone United 20 2018–19 Thero Setsile Jwaneng Galaxy 182021–22 Thabang Sesinyi Jwaneng Galaxy242022–23 Omaatla KebathoOrapa United232023–24 Thabang Sesinyi Jwaneng Galaxy152024–25 Thatayaone MgamanyaneGaborone United 152025-26 Thabang SesinyiJwaneng Galaxy 20
Player of the season Season Best Player Team2005–06 Moemedi Moatlhaping Township Rollers2006–07 Malepa Bolelang ECCO City Greens2007–08 Oteng Moalosi Mochudi Centre Chiefs2008–09 Joseph Phetogo Gaborone United2009–10 Kabelo Dambe Township Rollers2013–14 Mwampule Masule Township Rollers2014–15 Lesego Galenamotlhale Mochudi Centre Chiefs2017–18 Edwin Moalosi Township Rollers2018–19 Thero Setsile Jwaneng Galaxy
References
External links League at fifa.com