Blatter unaware of constituency league problems
FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer
| Saturday May 11, 2013 00:00
Responding to media questions during a press conference at the end of his two-day visit to Botswana on Saturday, Blatter said he was only told about the positives of the initiative and was not aware if it had caused any problems. 'I can not answer that right now because I am only hearing it for the first time. I will have an answer for you after I have discussed it with the minister here and BFA president,' was Blatter's answer to Duma FM sports anchor McDonald 'Chilliboy' Rakgare's question.
Rakgare had asked whether Blatter was made aware that the constituency soccer tournaments had caused some problems and some regions of the BFA were against the initiative. The FIFA boss answered in the presence of Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Shaw Kgathi who had earlier told the world football governing body president that constituency sports tournaments were one way government was lending its support towards development of sports, including soccer in the country.
Earlier on Friday night, Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe had also briefed Blatter that the Botswana is FIFA compliant and the government does not interfere in the running of the game. Dr Kedikilwe said the government only provides an enabling environment for successful growth and developing the sport. The constituency soccer tournaments, introduced by President Ian Khama in 2008 have in the past stirred much controversy as some sections of the soccer fraternity felt that it was a form of political interference in the running of the game, which FIFA abhors.
Back in 2010, the BFA made an apology to Minister Kgathi after it emerged that they gave the nation some wrong allegations that BFA was facing sanctions from FIFA regarding the constituency tournaments.On a positive note, Blatter hailed Botswana for its effort in developing football. He said Botswana is an important country in development of football having put in place some good programmes like schools of excellence aimed at developing soccer. He said at FIFA, there is no such nation labelled small as every member state is treated equally and afforded equal chances to compete at major competitions worldwide. He said as FIFA president he is a big fan of African football, as evidenced by bringing the first World Cup to the continent in 2010. As part of the 2010 legacy, FIFA has funded the Ramotswa Centre for Hope, which will combine a medical and soccer school.Blatter emphasised the importance of merging education with soccer, as football on its own is education.
He also heaped praise on FIFA development officer Ashford Mamelodi saying he has done a tremendous job towards the development of the game, not only in Botswana, but in Africa and the world. The FIFA leader also had a chance to tour the Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School that also serves as a soccer school of excellence. On Saturday he officially opened the hostel blocks at Lekidi Technical Centre, which are part of the FIFA Goal Two Project. He then did ground-breaking of the Goal Three project, which is the laying of artificial turf at the centre, before departing for South Africa to watch Sunday's 2013 AFCON final between Burkina Faso and Nigeria in Johannesburg.