'Suspended' softball coach fights back
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday July 1, 2023 06:00
Last month, the BSA suspended Selemogwe together with Phibion Tawina and Tshepo Letsholo on allegations of indiscipline. Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Selemogwe said he has not received any suspension letter or even a letter to show cause why he cannot be suspended.
“I am not suspended. As we speak, I am waiting for them to tell me when we are leaving for Ireland. That is my team and I still have a valid contract with the Botswana Softball Association (BSA).
I have written letters to the BSA president, he did not respond. I kept pushing him until he wrote a line acknowledging receiving the letters,” he said. Selemogwe argued that the BSA was misinformed about what transpired during the closing ceremony of a tournament Botswana hosted on February 28. The team was late for the closing ceremony, which the BSA top brass felt embarrassed the association.
“I was never served, only to learn from the technical director that coaches and players have been served with the same 'show cause why' letter. I saw that letter from them.
The BSA does not have any logic to suspend me or take action against me or any member of the senior women's team,” he said. Selemogwe said the BSA leadership failed to inform the team that the games were over and the team was shocked to learn that they were not going to play the final against South Africa. “Before accusing us of being an embarrassment, did you find out why the team was outside rather than just send people to tell us that we are wasting time and disappointing dignitaries? Do you think your leadership had informed us about the stoppage of the games?” he lashed in a letter to the BSA president, Katlholo Mosimanegape. Selemogwe said the BSA leadership felt aggrieved because he took them to task in front of players, but that was the same set-up where he was also addressed.
He said the team delayed attending the closing ceremony because they were seeking clarity. “The only embarrassment during the qualifiers was a failure by the BSA to market the tournament. That was supposed to be a peak period for softball,” he said. Selemogwe said the senior men's national team failed to qualify for the 2022 WBSC World Cup because of the same thing that happened to the senior women's team. He said the BSA wrote to WBSC complaining about the same technical director but they invited him to be in charge of the tournament.
Selemogwe said the team did not have a manager. Selemogwe wrote another follow-up letter where he noted that the BSA should have done better instead of claiming that procedure was followed regarding suspensions. “To me this is Deja vu. in 2018 I was fired as an assistant coach. My biggest crime was complaining about the team welfare and the use of public funds on the trip to Japan.
The head of delegation was the same technical director. I was suspended on a hearsay report that was presented by the head of delegation and a cover-up report by the logistics manager,” he said. Selemogwe said he was never called for a hearing to date. He said while still serving the suspension, BSA appointed new coaches, just as is currently happening.
For her part, Letsholo told Mmegi Sport that the BSA did not do its job with the blame shifted to the coaches. “Players wanted clarification about the final, so they wanted the team manager to come and explain. They did not want to attend the closing ceremony before being addressed,” she said. Meanwhile, the BSA public relations officer, Kelly Monyake pleaded to be given time for the matter to be resolved. “Give the BSA time to resolve the suspended coaches and players' issue. I believe it will be dealt with accordingly,” Monyake said.