The former Orlando Pirates, Platinum Stars, and Premier Soccer League (PSL) official was unveiled as BFL CEO early last year on a one-year contract.
He was given the task of transforming the league into a professional entity that would appeal to sponsors. MmegiSport has learnt that the majority of BFL board members are impressed with Mbatha’s role and want him to stay beyond the expiry of his one-year contract at the end of the month.
Mbatha has the option to renew his contract for three months (until the end of the season) but some on the board reportedly want him to get a 12-month extension. Mbatha has faced fierce pressure during his reign owing to the tension between the BFL board and its chairperson, Nicholas Zakhem.
Some are of the view that Mbatha has made a positive contribution and therefore deserves to stay until the league is on the right path to professionalism. The BFL board chairperson Nicolas Zakhem recently hinted that Mbatha might stay until the end of the season as speculated. “Indeed, Mbatha’s contract is expiring by the end of February.
There is an option to extend till the end of the season, where a handover will be done from the current board to the newly elected board. I trust that his experience can help us to do a prudent handover, beneficial transition and oversee the board elections,” Zakhem said. He added that he was supposed to meet Mbatha last week to discuss issues relating to his contract, but the meeting did not materialise. “The meeting didn’t materialise as some elements are still trying to imposter unlawful positions to derail football for their own gains. Hopefully, by early next week, all will be finalised in good faith and for the good of our football,” Zakhem said.
The South African reportedly earns $7,000 (around P95,000) per month. Mbatha was given the mandate to look for an understudy to take over after the expiry of his contract. Indications are that the BFL has failed to identify a suitable person for the position. It has been widely speculated that Patrick Motsepe will take over from Mbatha. Motsepe is the operations manager at BFL and works closely with Mbatha.
