The Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, David Fani, has admitted that his organisation’s failure to keep its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for longer periods is giving him sleepless nights.
Since Ashford Mamelodi left the office after almost 10 years at the helm in 2000, nobody has stayed for more than three years. This has hampered the progress of the association over the years, say football pundits. Administrators who have occupied the hot seat include Rashid Chopdat, Thuso Dikgaka, Falcon Sedimo, Thabo Ntshinogang, Tosh Kgotlele and the outgoing Judge Mookodi.
In between Mookodi Seisa, Sikalame Keatlholetswe and Susan Monametsi have also held the fort on an acting capacity.
“During the time of Mamelodi, there was progress because he was there for some time. These days a CEO can stay for a few months at BFA and leave. There seems to be problems in regard to the post, which the association has to look into,” said an observer.
While the reasons which have made the previous CEOs leave the football office remain unclear, it is the latest departure of Mookodi that has opened a can of worms.
Mookodi has been at the helm of the Botswana football secretariat for eight months but already he is on his way out.
Sunday Standard has learnt that there are some senior members of staff of the association who make it difficult for the CEOs to do their jobs properly at Lekidi Football Centre.
“Honestly, Mookodi is a true professional but there are challenges at Lekidi which made his job difficult. There is one senior member of staff here who can make your job more than difficult. Unless that person is brought to order nobody will succeed in that post. Unfortunately BFA leadership has turned a blind eye on the issue,” said a staff member at Lekidi.
The senior staff member (name known to Sunday Standard) is said to be bullying other staffers at Lekidi.
Recently, she transferred a receptionist to the accounts department without the knowledge of the CEO. It was only after the intervention of the national executive committee that the receptionist returned to her place.
A member of the accounts office resigned allegedly because of being bullied by the said senior staff member.
Mookodi will soon leave the office and BFA will once again embark on a search for a replacement with adverts expected to be put in newspapers this week.
Fani admitted on Friday morning that his executive will have to make some serious introspect before bringing in a new chief.
“It’s a cause for concern that we keep on employing people. We need to reflect. Maybe the problem is not the individuals who are appointed to this post. Maybe it is our set-up which makes work difficult,” said Fani.
The BFA president said that he was not aware that there are any staff members who are making life difficult for the CEOs.
“None of the previous CEOs has brought that to our attention because we’ve always said that they must tell us if there are staff members who are not pulling in the same direction,” he added.
Fani said they will shortly announce Mookodi’s last day in office. He denied recent media reports that Mookodi would be paid close P500, 000 as compensation.
“Mookodi’s issue is slightly different because we parted with him mutually. At the moment, we’re still negotiating his package. What was said about his package in a weekly newspaper was highly speculative,” he said.
