This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(December 2018) |
Founded | 1968 |
---|---|
Region | Botswana |
Number of teams | 48 |
Qualifier for | CAF Confederation Cup |
Current champions | Gaborone United (20223) (9th title) |
Most successful club(s) | Gaborone United (9 titles) |
2024 Botswana FA Cup |
The FA Challenge Cup, currently known as the Orange FA Cup or Orange Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the premier club football tournament in Botswana. Started in 1968 and first played as the Lions Cup, the tournament is based on the idea of giving lower league and amateur teams a chance to compete with top flight teams. It is based on the English FA Cup, which has become known for "giant killings" (lower league teams defeating top flight.
The tournament was started in 1968 as the Lions Cup. This name stayed in place until 1992 when the tournament was sponsored by Coca-Cola and was known as the Coca-Cola Cup. The tournament was known as the Coca-Cola Cup until the sponsorship deal expired in 2012. However, it was not played for six years due to lack of sponsors. In 2018 it was sponsored by Orange and was renamed the Orange FA Cup or Orange Cup.
The tournament was first sponsored in 1992. Below is a list of all the sponsors to date:
Initially the tournament was played by a total of 64 teams. The tournament began with the qualifying rounds featuring Botswana Division One teams. Only 32 Division One teams progressed and faced off in the extra preliminary round, with the winners playing against the top 16 Botswana First Division teams in the preliminary round. Botswana Premier League teams entered directly in the first round (the round of 32) to face the winners of the preliminary round. On 3 December 2018 it was announced that the tournament would now be played by 48 teams. The premier league sides automatically qualify for the round of 32 whereas the top eight finishers from either First Division league face off with 16 Division One teams from regional playoffs. From the round of 32 onwards teams are not seeded. Games which end in a draw after 90 minutes plus added time are subject to extra time and penalties if necessary. The winner walks away with P700 000 ($70 000) and also qualifies to play in the CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
The Botswana National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Gaborone, Botswana. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 25,000 people.
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.
Township Rollers Football Club is a football club based in Gaborone, Botswana. Rollers are also known as Popa, The Blues or Tse Tala, the official nicknames of the club. The club is also often referred to as Mapalastina, a nickname that developed in the 1990s but has never been officially adopted by the club. Rollers is the most successful club in Botswana football history, having won more league titles and cup competitions than any other local side. It enjoys a large support base all over the country and has been called arguably the best-supported team in Botswana.
The Orange Kabelano Charity Cup is a football (soccer) one match competition in Botswana. It was created in 1996 and the participation in this one-day event is decided by invitation or by a public vote.
Abednico Powell is a Botswana footballer who currently plays for Mogoditshane Fighters.
Donald Thobega, often known by his nickname Boboza, was a Motswana footballer who played as a midfielder. A sergeant in the Botswana military, he last played for Botswana Defence Force XI. Between 1999 and 2006, he won a total of five caps for the Botswana national football team.
The Mascom Top 8 Cup is a football cup competition in Botswana. It was created in 2012, and features the top eight finishers from the Botswana Premier League.
The 2018–19 Botswana Premier League was the 42nd season of the Botswana Premier League, the top-tier football league in Botswana, since its establishment in 1978. The season started on 18 August 2018. The league drew an average attendance of 1,300 per match.
The 2013 Mascom Top 8 Cup, also known as the Mascom Top 8 Cup Season 2 for sponsorship reasons, was the second edition of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. It was played from 23 February to 18 May 2013 by the top teams from the 2011-12 Botswana Premier League. It was won by Gaborone United.
The 2019 FA Challenge Cup was the 46th edition of the FA Challenge Cup, Botswana's premier football knockout tournament. It was sponsored by Orange and was known as the Orange FA Cup or Orange FA Cup Season 1 for sponsorship reasons. It started with the preliminary round on the weekend of 16 February and concluded with the final on 15 June 2019.
The 2017-18 Botswana First Division South was the 53rd season of the Botswana First Division South since its inception in 1966. It was played from August to May. Notwane were crowned champions.
The 1997 Botswana Premier League, also known as the 1997 Castle Super League for sponsorship reasons, was the 20th season of the Botswana Premier League. It was won by BDF XI.
The 1998 Botswana Premier League, also known as the 1998 Castle Super League for sponsorship reasons, was the 21st season of the Botswana Premier League. It was won by Notwane.
The 2012 FA Challenge Cup was the 45th edition of the FA Challenge Cup, Botswana's premier football knockout tournament. It was sponsored by Coca-Cola and was known as the Coca-Cola Cup for sponsorship reasons. It started with the extra preliminary round on 24 March 2012 and concluded with the final on 5 August 2012. The winner qualified for the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup.
Morwalela Seema is a Motswana former footballer who played as a striker for Mahalapye-based club Queens Park Rangers, Township Rollers and the Botswana national football team. He retired from professional football in 1984 as one of the best Batswana to ever grace the game.
The 2019–20 Botswana Premier League was the 43rd season of the Botswana Premier League, the top-tier football league in Botswana, since its establishment in 1978. The season started on 31 August 2019.
The 2022 FA Challenge Cup was the 48th edition of the FA Challenge Cup, Botswana's premier football knockout tournament. It was sponsored by Orange and was known as the Orange FA Cup or Orange FA Cup Season 3 for sponsorship reasons. It started with the preliminary round on the weekend of 26 February and concluded with the final on 18 June 2022.
The 1999 Botswana Premier League, also known as the 1999 Castle Super League for sponsorship reasons, was the 22nd season of the Botswana Premier League. It was a "mini league" with only half the games played as the Premier League transitioned from the February-November football calendar to the August-May European calendar.
The 1999-2000 Botswana Premier League, also known as the 1999-2000 Castle Super League for sponsorship reasons, was the 23rd season of the Botswana Premier League. It was played from 4 September 1999 to 17 May 2000.