This was hours before Rakgare made probably the harshest criticism of the duo and the Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Maclean Letshiwiti, during Ashford Mamelodi's book launch on Wednesday evening. In an earlier interview, in response to Rakgare’s comments on football leadership in last week Friday’s Mmegi, Zakhem said the minister was not doing favours to sport. “Jagdish did a lot for Rollers.
I have done the same for GU. You cannot say Jagdish and Zakhem are not suffering but the players are suffering. We paid players on time all the time with no exception. Are these people that you can say they are not good for football?” How can he come and label us in such a manner? I condemn his attitude and I condemn his behaviour.
It discourages people from coming abroad to come and invest in football. Right now people are welcoming against one another across the world. How do you attack people who have contributed to the economy and call them foreigners,” Zakhem “It makes it difficult for other people from outside,” Shah said. "It's unfortunate after all these years, now he calls me foreigner,” Zakhem. "We have never taken money from football. We even proposed to have a property as the BFL and this was supposed to be motivated to the other shareholders," Shah said.
Zakhem accused Rakgare of wanting to take control of football through some people. "He has joined people in a failed coup de tat by rebellious people when he is supposed to be a parent. Did he condemn the Palapye meeting? Did he condemn the people who locked the offices?" "The BFL is functioning, we don't owe anyone. We can proudly say we have delivered on our mandate. Everyone who criticises me means I am somebody. Rakgare has taken it to a personal level and he is welcome to fight. It is a personal fight. It is not about the minister. Don't hide under the (ministerial) portfolio," Zakhem said.
Rakgare was adamant on Wednesday that the two, although he did not mention them by name, had destroyed the game as the relations deteriorate. "I don't have a difference with the ministry. It is personal.
There is a vendetta, for him to refer to me as a foreigner.
He is practicing racism. "Foreigner is not a bad word, but there is a way to use it. The way he said it is very offensive. If he repeats it, I will take it forward," Zakhem added. Rakgare told guests at the book launch that some people, in apparent reference to Shah were sponsoring his political opponents in Mogoditshane, and he said he was ready for the fight. "I don't care. I know some in the past have said they will support my political opponents in Mogoditshane, I don’t care, I am ready," Rakgare said. It is said the feud has already reached the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) leadership.
