The ‘Protecting the Game’ launch attracted the who-is-who in football administration from within the borders and even from neighbouring South Africa.
Supersport’s Thomas Kwenaite and COSAFA chief executive officer, Sue Destombes were some of the dignitaries to make the trip from across the border.
It was a well-attended event and Mamelodi should feel proud after pulling an impressive crowd.
The stage was therefore set for an evening celebrating the achievement of a man many consider the bastion of football administration. It was his crowning moment and delegates arrived at the Sethoa Office Park venue to pat Mamelodi on the back as he became one of few local leaders to pen a book. But at the end of a long night, the celebratory mood had been soured and talk had shifted from the book launch to a side show, which could have been reserved for another day and another platform. The Minister of Youth, Sport, Gender and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare utilised the launch to tear into the Botswana football leadership.
It’s not something new, but a continuation of a fall-out that has raged on for months. The only difference was the time and place, and probably that it was the harshest to date. It caught delegates by complete surprise and had Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Maclean Letshwiti fail to deliver his prepared speech. He had been caught off guard as Rakgare landed blow-after-blow.
The minister has every right to voice his concerns, whichever way he deems necessary, but he should have probably chosen an alternative time and place. This was supposed to be Mamelodi’s night, a night where all the good that the man has done for the game was supposed to come to the fore. But it was the ugly side of football that comprehensively won the night. Before delivering his razor sharp attack on the football leadership, Rakgare had cautioned journalists against focusing on the ‘side issues’ but instead celebrate Mamelodi. But as a former journalist, Rakgare knows better what constitutes juicy news.
He is very much alive to the news values and how they determine story telling. At the end of the night, delegates spoke more of the attack than the book itself. May be the minister will feel satisfied that his remarks got maximum attention at an event that had gathered key football brains. But it left a sour taste in the mouth and the grass that suffered in this instance was the person who was supposed to be the groom on the night; Mamelodi. Instead it was Rakgare who stole the thunder and successfully managed to steer the topic away from the book launch.
The minister was fully aware of what he was doing and the mood at number five Sethoa Office Park was significantly different the moment he left the podium. But he might protest his innocence and say that was not the intention. That said, the football issues that Rakgare has complained about need to be addressed soberly as for now, it appears the fights have turned personal.
