BY DUNCAN KGANGKENNA
The Debswana First Division North committee (DFDN) just like the Botswana Football Association is prone to controversy. The Botswana Police Service operation Kgomo Khumo landed one of the BFA officials in custody after he was caught with stolen cattle.
Thebeitsile Motswaing, DFDN interim secretary general is in Masunga police custody for stealing cattle. Motswaing stock theft case has brought more negative attention to the FDN committee that is aligned to the BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti.
Last year in October, the whole league committee was suspended on allegations of maladministration and the interim committee was appointed by the BFA national executive Committee to administer the league while the standing committee is serving suspension.
“That the National First Division North League Committee has failed to account for funds received by it. That the whole National First Division North Committee be suspended forthwith pending disciplinary action for failing to account for funds” read a statement from the BFA issued in October.
The suspended committee is adamant that they did nothing wrong because their books of accounts were adopted by the DFDN general assembly and the BFA has sent an official who did not complain of anything. They see the suspension as witch hunt and purging of individuals ahead of the coming BFA elective assembly due next year.
The interim committee led by Jonas Okgopoleng and Motswaing was once a committee member at the Great North Tigers football club where his departure was unceremonious because he was fired for bringing instability in the committee.
Motswaing appeared for mention on Tuesday and was denied bail and remained apprehended by the Masunga police.
The suspended committee is yet to appear before the disciplinary committee where they are to prove their innocence. The committee has gone on record saying they are engaging legal brains to assist them to fight their case. The suspended committee comprises of chairperson, Mpenzeni Sambandawe, secretary general, Rapula Gaothobogwe and Mompati Ketlogetswe, treasurer. The committee is not aware of when they will be called for hearing since the BFA is not communicating anything with them.
BFA CEO, Mfolo Mfolo said they haven’t heard anything from their colleague from the north. “We haven’t heard anything from FDN committee we will wait for them to inform us. If it is a police case we will look at it and use our code of conduct to guide on which action to take against any individual who contravenes the BFA law,” said Mfolo.
He said the BFA like any other organization does not condone issues of theft, fraud and maladministration and in football the three do not have a place in the running of the game.
