BOTSWANA : Fuel shortage disrupts basketball league

by MOGOMOTSI BUZWANI

FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) has been forced to postpone league games due to a shortage of fuel. The shortage started when South African transporter, Transnet workers, went on strike a fortnight ago. The industrial action has ended and the situation is expected to improve.

BBA chairperson, Kabo Khama, said they were forced to cancel their Saturday games after clubs communicated that they will not be able to travel because of the fuel shortages. Gaborone-based Botswana Defence Force (BDF) V were supposed to travel to Francistown to play against Flames and Splinters.

"The games were postponed because one of the teams, BDF V, failed to travel to Francistown due to the fuel situation. Three games were supposed to be played on Saturday. We have not yet set the date for these games," he said.

Khama added that institutional clubs like BDF V are not allowed to use private transport and therefore they could not travel. "Teams like BDF V are not allowed to use their own vehicles or hire transport. The players who play for BDF V are government employees thus the government ensures safety for them all the time. They are supposed to use government vehicles only for their trips," he said.