BFA reported govt to FIFA

Oarabile Mosikare | Wednesday July 2, 2014 06:59

Evidence shows it was not the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) that blew the whistle as the ruling party has been alleging since FIFA issued an ultimatum to the government two weeks ago.  Mmegi is in possession of a letter dated December 15, 2008 to the FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, written by the BFA marketing and communications officer, Phakamile Kraai. In the letter, copied to FIFA development officer, Ashford Mamelodi, Kraai stated that the Botswana government has introduced a constituency league, and thus sought direction.

“How the game is played is that the constituency fixtures are played first by all the villages/wards and surrounding neighbours per region, and when the winner emerges from that constituency area they will then play the other constituency winner. 

This is a never-ending programme where after the winners have been crowned, the games will start over again. There is prize money that is won by the teams,” wrote Kraai. 

He explained that constituency football is open to all non-registered clubs and they see this as an interference with the formal registered clubs within the BFAS structures. “Please advise and give a way forward.”  

Two days later, Valcke responded to the then BFA chief executive officer Mooketsi Kgotlele – incidentally now an active BDP member who stood and lost in the party primaries against Unity Dow in Mochudi West. 

“According to your correspondence, the constituency football league implemented by the Botswana government is a parallel league in the territory of Botswana which is neither controlled by the Botswana Football Association (BFA) nor are the clubs registered with BFA. For the sake of completeness, we should be grateful if you could provide us with all relevant information you might have such as organisation of the competition, disciplinary bodies, number of clubs, etc,” said Valcke. 

He reminded Kgotlele that, the BFA – as a member of FIFA – should be solely responsible for organising and supervising football in Botswana. “As a result, the BFA could be in conflict with the members’ obligation of the BFA Statutes.” 

He continued: “Moreover, we stress that such an interference by the Botswana government in the competences of the BFA, could be considered a violation of the fundamental and democratic principle of the independence of an association. For the sake of good order, we have informed you that any infringement of the FIFA Statutes may incur sanctions imposed by FIFA”. 

On January 7, 2009, the then BFA president David Fani wrote to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, informing the ministry of FIFA correspondence. Fani copied the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) chairperson.  “The BFA National Executive Committee is desirous of deliberating on this matter with relevant stakeholders to map a way forward. 

To this end, an urgent meeting is being arranged with the BNSC to discuss the matter. It is most likely that, following the meeting with the BNSC, representations will be made to the Honourable Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture concerning the matter,” wrote Fani. 

This evidence, however, seems to have escaped the ruling party, including the former sports minister, Shaw Kgathi who was the first to allege BCP and its Mogoditshane parliamentary candidate, MacDonald Rakgare are the ones who tipped FIFA about the constituency league. 

Among the BCP accusers is BDP Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington South, Botsalo Ntuane, who was quoted in a weekend newspaper saying President Khama should consider stopping the league. Ntuane was also reported saying all the young people affected by the cancellation will henceforth have to demand answers from the BCP why the party caused such action and yet wants their vote in October. 

BCP presidential spokesperson Martin Dingake has rubbished the BDP members’ accusations. “The evidence on the report of and the circumstances surrounding the constituency league to FIFA shows the extent to which Kgathi and Ntuane are prepared to concoct and fabricate facts with the deliberate intention to discredit the BCP and it’s leadership at the expense of telling the truth,” said Dingake.

Dingake said Kgathi and Ntuane have neither the shame nor moral consciousness in purposefully and conveniently misleading the nation about facts within their knowledge and/or which they have reason to know and believe to be false. “These exposes them for who they are. Discredited and without moral authority to preside over our public institutions.

“For way too long Minister Kgathi and company have been peddling falsehoods about BCP with the hope to score cheap political points and act selfishly. It has become Minister Kgathi’s trademark to always deliberately speak against the truth. You can be sure of one thing when Minister Kgathi speaks - truth is the first and only causality!”