| Debswana First Division South | |
| Pixels: | 250 |
| Confed: | CAF |
| Organiser: | Botswana Football Association |
| Founded: | 1966 |
| Teams: | 12 |
| Levels: | 2 |
| Promotion: | Botswana Premier League |
| Relegation: | Botswana Division One |
| Domest Cup: | FA Challenge Cup |
| Confed Cup: | CAF Confederation Cup |
| Champions: | Matebele FC |
| Season: | 2022-23 |
| Tv: | Maru TV, NOW TV |
| Current: | 2023-24 Botswana First Division South |
For association football in Botswana, the Botswana First Division South (currently known as the Debswana First Division South due to sponsorship reasons) is the second-tier professional football league in Botswana. Founded in 1966 after Botswana was granted independence, it is administered by the Botswana Football Association and features teams from the southern part of the country.
The league was founded in 1966 as an attempt by the BFA to stimulate grassroots football development and evenly spread the sport across the country. Although First Division teams are directly promoted to the top tier of Botswana football and also participate in the FA Challenge Cup, the winner of which qualifies to compete in the CAF Confederation Cup, an African continental competition equivalent to the UEFA Europa League, critics have claimed the league is not taken seriously enough. Cited as an example is the fact that the First Division South did not get a sponsor until 2013, 45 years into its existence, and lacks proper stadia unlike other second-tier leagues like South Africa's National First Division.In 2014 the league was rocked by a clash between BFA and the government over the issue of constituency tournaments. Constituency tournaments were introduced by the government in 2008 to combat social ills through sport. The BFA appealed to the government to terminate the tournaments as many First Division players were deserting their clubs to take part in the tournaments for a quick and slightly higher payout, violating BFA regulations. BFA also had a problem with the tournament being under government control and not their own as the Botswana football governing body. However, the government refused as constituency tournaments were seen as amateur competitions and not professional, and BFA appealed to FIFA to resolve the issue.[1] After sending a delegation to Botswana on a fact-finding mission FIFA ruled that the administration of constituency tournaments be handed over to the BFA and threatened to ban Botswana if this was not done. Following months of discussions the constituency tournament format and rules were amended to meet FIFA standards and it was agreed that BFA would have a say in its running.
Since its inception in 1966 the First Division South has had only one sponsor. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. Below is a list of all the sponsors to date:
On 27 June 2018 BFA signed a deal with Baboneng Film Productions to broadcast live First Division games, making Baboneng the first ever private company to broadcast First Division games. The groundbreaking deal was for P9 000 000 over five years commencing from the 2018–19 season and concluding in 2022–23. Baboneng agreed to pay P1 500 000 per season for the first two seasons and P2 000 000 per season afterwards. Any games that are not covered by Baboneng's MARU TV are to be broadcast by the state-owned youth channel NOW TV.[2]
There are 12 teams in the First Division South. Matches are played in a double round robin format, meaning every team plays every other team twice in a season both home and away. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. At the end of the season the team with most points is crowned champions and gains automatic promotion to the Botswana Premier League whereas the runners up go into the First Division promotional playoffs with the runners up of the First Division North. The team with the lowest points is relegated to the Division One league of their respective regional FA but the number of teams relegated depends on the number of southern teams relegated from the premier league. If only one southern team is relegated from the premier league then three teams are relegated from the First Division South to make space for both the relegated team and the two promoted from Division One via the Botswana Division One playoffs.
Where there is a tie of points goal difference is used to separate teams and determine log standings. First Division South games are generally played on weekend afternoons. Since there are next to no stadiums set aside for lower league use, First Division matches are played on dusty school grounds and other community spaces, resulting in the First Division being nicknamed 'ko leroleng' or 'at the dust'.
The top eight teams in the First Division South automatically qualify to play in the FA Challenge Cup. Although no First Division South team has ever won the competition, they see it as an opportunity to market their players and attract attention through shocking 'giant-killing' victories over premier league teams. First Division South teams like Mokgosi Young Fighters and Jwaneng Comets (now Jwaneng Galaxy) have also previously played in the FA Cup final.
List of teams in the 2017-18 FDS:
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Relegated at end of season | Promoted at end of season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | Wonder Sporting | Gaborone United | Tlokweng United Desert Nxau | |
| 2001-02 | BMC | Gaborone United | Sharpsville Kanye Southern Pirates | Debswana Young Stars |
| 2003-04 | Township Rollers | |||
| 2005-06 | Uniao Flamengo Santos | Jwaneng Comets | Sharps Shooting Stars Maletamotse | Kgabosetso Southern Callies Wonder Sporting |
| 2011-12 | Letlapeng | |||
| 2012-13 | Wonder Sporting | Jwaneng Comets | Gabane United Kanye Swallows | |
| 2013-14 | Letlapeng | Tsholofelo Rolling Boys | ||
| 2014-15 | Jwaneng Galaxy | Mogoditshane Fighters | Black Rangers Mochudi Rovers | |
| 2015-16 | Black Forest | |||
| 2016-17 | Sharps Shooting Stars | Uniao Flamengo Santos | ||
| 2017-18 | Notwane | Prisons XI | ||
| 2018-19 | Gilport Lions | Jwaneng Fighters | Black Rangers Modipane United Blue Stars | Holy Ghost Ncojane Young Stars |
| 2019-20 | Masitaoka | Mogoditshane Fighters | ||
| 2020-21 | No Champion awarded due to COVID-19 | |||
| 2021-22 | ||||
| 2022-23 | Matebele FC | VTM FC | Broadhurst Black Rangers | |
League winning managers
| Season | Winner | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | Township Rollers | Joseph Panene |
| 2016-17 | Sharps Shooting Stars | Rapelang Tsatsilebe |
| 2017-18 | Notwane | Kakale Mabechu |
| 2018-19 | Gilport Lions | Mandivenga Paradzayo |
The following clubs were in the league during the 2022/23 season:
| Club | City / Town |
|---|---|
| Black Rangers | Tsabong |
| Broadhurst | Gaborone |
| Crackit City Polar | Gaborone |
| Matebejane | Mogoditshane |
| Matebele FC | Matebeleng |
| Mochudi Centre Chiefs | Mochudi |
| Ncojane YoungStars | Jwaneng |
| Notwane FC | Gaborone |
| Santos | Gabane |
| Tlokweng United | Tlokweng |
| Uri Black Forest | Gaborone |
| VTM FC | Gaborone |