BCF accused of withholding players' cash
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday January 15, 2022 06:00
The team finished second position and pocketed $800 (approximately P8,000.) Some of the team members included International Master Providence Oatlhotse, Gomolemo Rongwane, Woman International Master (WIM) Kgalalelo Botlhole, WIM Dr Onkemetse Francis and Candidate Master (CM) Thuso Mosutha. According to information reaching Mmegi Sport, the players were promised a share of the spoils. “After the money was credited into BCF bank account, they went silent.
The executive committee ignored our text messages. Some of them told us that they have decided to keep the money and if we have a problem with that, we could take the matter further,” a source said. This publication is further informed that the executive committee was divided regarding the money. Three members of the committee felt that the money should be distributed to the players and even suggested that the Federation should at least keep only $100 (P1,000).
The rest of the committee wanted the whole amount. The players were advised to seek redress with the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). The team is said to be considering reporting the BCF to World Chess Federation (FIDE). BCF president, Mooketsi Segaise told Mmegi Sport the concern that was raised by the players was not genuine. “Our people seem not to appreciate the levels of engagement as and when they have issues to be attended to but their concern is not genuine one.
All the board prizes that were won by our players have been duly released to them. We sent out a team on national duty and they came second,” he said. Segaise explained it was up to the executive committee to decided how the prize money is distributed and the players, team captain or the team manager have the power to dictate to the executive committee how the funds should be handled. “All they should know is that what they are doing borders on misconduct. In the past the team won P1, 000 from the 4.5 tournament and the players did not get that money,” he said.
Segaise said he expected the team to know the right channels to follow when they have issues but if they believe by approaching the media, FIDE and BNSC is the right way to approach matters then it is very unfortunate. “I previously advised the team captain to raise whatever issues through the team manager because I was not going to address people individually.
So these guys should approach issues in a mature manner and engage us properly not in the manner they seem to be doing,” he said. Segaise said BNSC and FIDE are mature organisations and he expects them to act in that fashion in the event they are involved and he would be ready to address them.