Babitseng’s delicate balancing act
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday September 21, 2024 06:00
Palapye is a convenient geographic confluence and is increasingly becoming an influential spot for tipping moments. Last week Saturday presented another opportunity for the town to claim a small part in the history of football. After eight years of continuous rule, Letshwiti was hoping to continue with his winning streak that would have landed him an unprecedented third term at the helm of the Botswana Football Association (BFA). It was going to be a first, as no president has managed three consecutive terms. In fact, in 2020 Letshwiti became the first BFA leader to get two consecutive terms, but attempts for a third fell flat on their face. The man responsible for handing Letshwiti the defeat was Babitseng, who is no stranger to the Lekidi Centre corridors having been part of the masterminds of 'Friends of Football' 2012 win that removed David Fani.
After the 2012 elections, Babitseng occupied the BFA vice president (administration) seat but two years later, he was suspended following the Zebras trip to Guinea Bissau. Babitseng was the head of delegation and found himself in hot soup after being accused of misappropriating contingency funds amounting to P72, 000. Five years later, as chairperson of Extension Gunners, Babitseng was suspended over P30, 000 which was missing from the club's accounts. He was, however, cleared of any wrongdoing. Babitseng has rode the storms as on Saturday, he ascended to football's top post, arguably the finest moment in his chequered administrative career. Football's history books will record Babitseng as a man who halted Letshwiti's long rule. It could be equated to one of the Bible's enduring stories of David and Goliath. Letshwiti had moulded himself into a strongman, accused by his critics of overseeing an authoritarian regime. Babitseng's entry on Saturday presented a fresh start for football but he faces the daunting task of placating a long-suffering colony.
By Monday afternoon, the new leader had already walked through the offices of Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, as he began repair works following months of a fractured relationship between the government and the BFA. The BNSC was in tow as it also sought improved relations with the new Lekidi Centre administration. Babitseng addressed BFA staff this week and it was not the battle of attrition that some had anticipated as the new man in charge reportedly preached unity. However, that will not be long as Babitseng gets down to business and it will be inevitable that daggers will be drawn. The starting point will be to surround himself with a team that he trusts but Lekidi Centre is still populated with Letshwiti loyalists. However, Babitseng knows the potential banana skin of a reckless purge. He might soon find himself in the middle of a cow horn formation if he does not diligently execute his plans. There are mounting reports that the BFA CEO, Mfolo Mfolo, will be targeted for the chop, amongst a host of other employees within the secretariat. But wholesome changes are unlikely as some political cadres aligned to the previous regime are still in office, meaning Babitseng is a man delicately walking on eggshells. There will be pressure from Babitseng's supporters, particularly foot soldiers who were critical to the campaign, to be rewarded with positions, at the expense of those who were part of the Letshwiti brigade.
The purge could even extend to the national team coach, Didier Gomes da Rosa, who was brought in by Letshwiti, amidst opposition from Rakgare. Babitseng has promised to reinstate the Botswana Football League's autonomy which was taken away earlier this year. This could be an easy task as it does not involve drawing blood. He has to decide whether he endures with Bennett Mamelodi as the head of the Premier League secretariat or he dips into his list of trusted lieutenants. The temptation to reverse policies from the previous regime would be overwhelmingly given the low levels of confidence that prevailed in the run-up to the elections. As he soliloquises, Babitseng will be faced with the critical question – 'To be or not to be?' – with pressure and expectation building from within his ‘Friends of Football’ camp and the football fraternity in general.