Constituency league motion shot down

Patricia Edwin | Thursday November 28, 2013 16:15

The motion tabled by BDP councillor, Raoboy Mpuang on Tuesday, wanted the council to resolve to request the ministry of youth, sports and culture to review constituency tournament rules and regulations and make it mandatory for all clubs to be registered with the Registrar of Societies and payment made directly to registered entities’ accounts.  BCP councillor Tabengwa Tabengwa of Ikageleng Ward said that he was against the motion because he had never agreed with constituency tournaments in the first place, but because it was a directive from President Ian Khama, he had no choice.  “You know how it is in this country. We did not agree with the directive but we could not challenge it,” he said.   He further rubbished Mpuang’s idea that the clubs should be registered saying that it involved a whole new process and that the players would now have to pay affiliations fees.  Councillor Ben Mpotokwane also of the BCP said that they did not understand anything about the constituency tournaments because they had never agreed on them.  “I do not understand. But it needs to remain an informal thing and have as few restrictions as possible. I have never agreed with this thing,” he said.  Another BCP councillor, Professor Tlou, said that Mpuang had hurried the motion because what he should have done first was consult and understand the set-up. 

“First of all there is a clause that says that the groups have to be unregistered teams because if they are registered, they now become official teams,” he said.  Tlou said that the tournaments were a disaster just like Ipelegeng.

“Just as with Ipelegeng, we were simply told about the tournaments. We advised that these ideas were not sustainable.  “The mover of the motion should have researched and consulted on the best way to handle the issue,” said Tlou.  Former mayor Ephraim Maiketso said that people had to understand that they needed to research before they bring a motion.

“We have to understand that when you meet someone in the street, they tell you their concerns. “You cannot just come running into the council and turning those concerns into a motion without first researching,” said Maiketso.

Maiketso, a former match commissioner with the Botswana Football Association (BFA), said that Mpuang’s suggestions would interfere with FIFA regulations.  “I told you before that this motion is of no use. Now you are bringing it in when I told you about it. It is not good at all and as for me, move further away from me with that motion,” he added.

Mpuang said that at the moment the situation was chaotic because the leader of winning team leader could just collect the prize and not share it with others, which caused conflicts and fights among them.

He further suggested that the groups should register as companies, then correct and secure procedures to be followed to make payments such as paying into a bank account.  Mpuang said that the money issue had broken groups that had potential to go far.  He said: “It is a big concern for the residents of Francistown,” he said.  Specially elected councillor, Ford Moiteela said that accountability had to be attached to the way the money was collected after winning.

“There have to be committees that include the chairpersons and treasurers such that not just anyone can collect the money from the District Commissioner’s office. “The youth has to learn to use money towards the development and growth of the club,” he said.