BY DUNCAN KGANGKENNA
The Botswana Football Association (BFA) corporate governance does not impress the Sports Minister.
The Sunday Standard has received information that Minister, Tshekedi Khama recently summoned the BFA leadership led by Maclean Letshwiti to his office to explain several sticky issues.
“The Minster was not happy with many things. He told the BFA leadership in their faces that he will not compromise and if needs he will take stern action against BFA,” said the source.
According to those close to the BFA the minister was not happy with the new the BFA technical sponsor, staffing and senior national team coach, among others.
On the BFA technical sponsor, the minister had wanted to know why the local supplier, All Kasi or other local suppliers were ditched for foreign brands. It is alleged the minister had also wanted to know whether or not the BFA floated expression of interest tender advert for companies to show interest prior to the appointment of the new supplier.
In an earlier interview with the BFA chief executive officer (CEO), Mfolo Mfolo on why they have backtracked on their earlier stand of advertising for expression of interest he said: “Procurement methods vary. They depend on prevailing situations. The tender was one of the options which were envisaged to be used.”
In January talking to this publication the BFA CEO said they are going to advertise the technical sponsorship for corporate companies to express interest.
The new Umbro Zebras kit that unveiled on Thursday has attracted controversy on social media with supporters rejecting it as ugly. It received negativity and some suggested supporters should use old replicas as a way of protesting against the new kit. One Masego Motshubi on Facebook asked, “So BFA dished All Kasi for this rubbish? Ba ta e apara le ma English, we will stick to our own.”
Enerst Kingbale’s comment on Facebook reads: “Let’s start Cyber bullying them gongwe batla cancel this blue nonsense … Kana mme somebody agreed after trial are the home kit is beautiful…. Whoever made this crap otla se apara it’s probably a South African designer since Umbro doesn’t manufacture from Botswana.” Umbro will be the exclusive global technical partner of the national team, supplying the Zebras playing squad with best-in-class authentic competition, training, and off field apparel the BFA president Facebook page reads.
Contacted for comment the BFA spokesperson, Tumo Mpatane said “the kit is nice and resembles the national colours. It has an artistic brilliance and there are those who applaud the designs. The home kit received mixed reactions. There are those who adore the kit while others expressed different views.”
Mpatane believes the nation will get used to the kit and start buying it once it hits the shelves.
It is said the minster was not happy with the way the BFA hire people. “The minister observed that some employees were hired without advertisements placed on media platforms. Friends were hired after creating non-existing posts. He also questioned the qualifications of some the people occupying top positions,” said the source.
On the issue of the senior national team coach it was said the BFA failed to convince the minister on why the former coach, David Bright, was fired and they could also not prove that they supported him during his tenure.
The premier league operations were also discussed in a meeting with the BFA. It is alleged the minister had also wanted to know why the league has a huge outstanding debt with the Botswana National Sport Commission over the use of the stadia by premier league teams. The league owes BNSC over P1.2 million for the use of their facilities. Premier league grants were initial P50 000 a month ad were cut to P35 000 to cater for stadia bills.
Reached for comment, the Minister could not divulge what was discussed but said discussions are still ongoing between him and the BFA.
