Premier League teams are counting losses in a season marred by shortage of venues after the government closed down three stadiums in and around Gaborone for renovation.

The closure of the three stadiums at once resulted in Gaborone based teams having to use Molepolole Sports Complex and Lobatse Stadium as their home grounds.

This has impacted heavily on the clubs' budgets as well as the loyal supporters who have no choice but follow their teams wherever they play.

The situation has not been helped by the fact that it is still unclear as to when the stadiums will be ready. Information reaching Mmegi Sport is that there is currently nothing taking place at SSKB Stadium.

Sources say that the renovators removed the turf but nothing has happened since then.

Efforts to get an update from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture hit a snag at the time of going to press as the Public Relations Office (PRO) was still working on the questions submitted by Mmegi Sport two weeks ago.

Naughty Boys' treasurer Lebogang Tlhaloso disclosed that their budget has been badly affected. He said that they used P300 to travel from Tlokweng to the stadiums in Gaborone for their home games in a 25-seater and now have to part with P700 to travel to Molepolole.

He added that it also depends on whether the games are played in the evening or afternoon. He pointed out that they spend more money on transport when they play in the evening in Molepolole since they hire commercial transport.

"They charge more because the time at which we leave for Molepolole especially on Fridays is the time when they should be making more money, which is justifiable," he said.

He also pointed out that when they play at night, they are forced to part with P50 per player after the game so that the players can have something for supper.

This makes a total of P1,100 for 22 players. He said they now have to pop out more for security than when they were playing in Gaborone. He revealed that the rate per guard has risen by P25 per person. They normally hire 20 to 30 guards per home game.

BDF XI spokesperson Spencer Kesebonye said that they are lucky in that when it comes to transport, the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) always comes to their rescue. He, however, admitted that transport costs have increased sharply and most clubs are struggling.

He added that the closure of stadiums has now made the situation look like Gaborone-based teams are playing away all the time. He further explained that although the clubs received part of the grant from the Premier League Committee (PLC), it has not helped matters that much.

He said the money came at a time when the clubs were desperately in need of cash for various needs.

One supporter, who only identified himself as a loyal Township Rollers' supporter, told Mmegi Sport that he is feeling the pinch.

He said that at first it looked like it was nothing much, having to travel to Molepolole and Lobatse but he is starting to realise that his monthly budget has been thrown into disarray.

"I used to get a combi for P5.40 for every game played at the National Stadium, SSKB or UB Stadium and then P25 for the ticket but now I have to part with P20 for transport for every game played in Molepolole or Lobatse," he said.

He further stated that this means he now spends a total of P80 in transport per month as he watches one game per weekend.

"I always make sure that I watch every Rollers' game and when they are playing in Selebi-Phikwe or Francistown, I watch one of the games in Molepolole or Lobatse per weekend.

He said that he used to pay a total of P21.60 per month on transport. He said that he is now planning to attend only two games per month to cut costs. "You can imagine how much I have spent in excess of the initial amount since these stadiums were closed.

"Developments are always welcome but the closure was not well planned. They should not have closed them all at once," he added.