After swinging sideways, Ntshingane fixes eyes on the big one
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday August 24, 2024 06:01
On saturday, Masego Ntshingane became the first of three Botswana Football Association (BFA) presidential candidates to publicly launch his manifesto. This marks another swivel action in Ntshingane's fast moving career as a football administrator. Under Jelusic Veselin's Zebras, Ntshingane was a crafty left footed midfielder, having thrived at club level where he was part of a dominant Mogoditshane Fighters led by the late David Bright. His first taste of high level football administration was when he joined 'Friends of Football' led by Tebogo Sebego for the 2016 campaign. While some of his comrade in arms fell by the wayside, Ntshingane made it through as an additional member. But it was not long before the former army man decamped to the Maclean Letshwiti camp, which made up the majority of the BFA national executive committee. By 2020, Ntshingane was a fully-fledged member of the Letshwiti group and was given the task to contest for a higher position as second vice president.
He managed to win the seat and has served as vice president until the recent twist in the build-up to the 2024 elections. A soft-spoken man with a strong army background, Ntshingane is always careful how he treads; more like walking on egg shells. There are reports of a fall-out with Letshwiti as the BFA president moved closer to second vice president, Moakaneng Bontshetse. Inside sources indicate Bontshetse has Letshwiti's ear and has become the trusted 'blue eyed boy'. At some point, there was talk of Bontshetse challenging Letshwiti at this year's election, but that talk fizzled as the two grew closer in a game where permanence has become a rare currency. There has been a lot of horse trading over the years, with friends, turning foe and sworn enemies turning to each's hands. After a flirting with two of the most powerful camps in the last two elections, Ntshingane has decided to take the bull by the horn. He is now right in the middle of the road after swerving left and then right in the previous two elections. He has presented himself as a solo runner prepared to work with whoever is given the mandate to run the affairs of football by the BFA affiliates at next month's poll. His 'marakanelo' manifesto launch enjoyed the 'support' of two other candidates in the BFA elections, Phazha Butale and Carlos Sebina. But Ntshingane is quick to point out that doors remain wide open as he does not have a lobby list.
The former Zebras captain knows the hard work ahead. His manifesto pretty reads like a 'corrections list' from what he perceives to be the transgressions of the current administration- him excluded or included? Ntshingane is aiming to pull a victory which will be similar to what Sebego did to former president, David Fani. Sebego had worked closely with Fani as the mother body's legal advisor, before pulling a stunning, lopsided win during the 2012 elections. Ntshingane has worked in close contact with Letshwiti but come September 14, he will hope to unseat the man he has called his 'boss' for the past eight years. There is also Tariq Babitseng to contend with, a man who has also tasted power within Lekidi Centre's corridors as BFA vice president. Unlike in 2016 or 2020, Ntshingane will not hide under any faction, but will have to rely on his own brand as he seeks the vote to run one of the most scrutinized offices in the land. He knows the intricacies of a campaign that has already turned dirty, amid allegations of external forces driving regime change. A lot has been said and will be said as football trudges towards another watershed moment on September 14.