I am not a failure – Letshwiti
Chakalisa Dube | Saturday March 4, 2023 06:00
On the campaign trail in 2016, Letshwiti promised that he will create 5,000 jobs by the end of his four year tenure. His critics labelled his promise an illusion. He ultimately won the election and was re-elected in 2020. Letshwiti is now in his seventh year as BFA president but jobs have not been coming as per his pledge. This has earned him the failure tag. However, during a recent press briefing in Francistown, Letshwiti refused to admit that his controversy ridden presidency has been a failure, particularly creating jobs. “The 5,000 jobs dream is very realistic. It is not an illusion. I admit that I have taken too long to professionalise and commercialise football.
That I admit; I have delayed. We can only attain 5,000 jobs only when football is professional and commercial,” Letshwiti said. “Creating 5,000 jobs is a process. It can be achieved by me or someone else,” he added. He said one of the main reasons it has been difficult to create more jobs through football is because local clubs need to be strongly capacitated to fully transition into professionalism and commercialisation, something that will require more time. “If football is fully professional and commerciliased, a single club should employ at least 90 people. The spin off effects would then mean that more jobs would be created. It is imperative to build the apex first before we can cascade the strategy with a view of creating more jobs. We are still trying to build the apex.” Letshwiti stated that since he took over, he has been doing his best to create a path to commercialisation and professionalisation of the game. “In 2016, I brought somebody from FIFA to the lead the BFL on the path to professionalisation and commercialisation, but they (BFL) failed. “ He added that three years ago, he brought a South African consultant to start the process of commercialisation among local clubs.
According to him, the process failed again. “We are not giving up. I recently employed a consultant who is going to professionalise the league and I hope that things will change for the better. I am launching the ‘RESET agenda’ in our regions. If the process is successful, more jobs will be created.” The BFA RESET agenda, which will be launched in Francistown on Saturday, aims to empower regions to help drive commercialisation of the game in the country. Letshwiti also said the technical centres that the association will construct will also help direct and indirectly contribute to the 5,000 jobs agenda. The association is planning to build several technical centres beginning this year using proceeds from FIFA.