Oh Carol, you can do it some more!

Mqondisi Dube | Monday August 22, 2022 16:00

It is a beautifully crafted piece of music that, 44 years on, still resonates even with today’s generation. Botswana Football Association’s (BFA) revolving door recently saw the arrival of its own Carol; Carol Kgafela who has taken a significant role as Head of Marketing, Commercial and Communications.

Although it’s not necessarily like-for-like, Carol replaces former public relations and marketing officer, Tumo Mpatane who checked out of Lekidi Centre at the end of July.

Carol will be aware of what she is walking into; a lion’s den. Probably something that she doesn’t want to hear, but it is an ever-present reality check. Few will deny that the BFA is a political organisation with the Lekidi Football Centre, the unforgiving freedom square.

Ideally it should not be like that; technocrats must be allowed to flourish and implement programmes that will take the game forward. But it is the politicians who call the shots and Carol, you will soon find out; if you already haven’t.

Lekidi Centre is a place where knives are forever sharpened and the exit door an ever busy outlet. We hear of stories of those who departed, not because they did not perform their duties well, but had fallen foul with the system.

They arrive amid much pomp and fan fare, but the departure is usual sharp and brutal. You might need to be in sync with the system for you to survive; literally sing from the same hymn book even if you don’t understand the lyrics.

I guess you have already activated the survival mode, as you will need it from day one. You will obviously come under close scrutiny both from within and outside the association. Some are already whispering loudly about the ‘Kgatleng connection’, you have to be steely to survive. Above all, you need to perform; that’s non-negotiable. The BFA is an organisation in constant need of strong, strategic public relations.

There is a lot that goes on at Lekidi Centre, which will need a convincing response from the unit you head. There is also the commercial aspect, which means you have to make BFA a viable and attractive destination for sponsors. It has been the Achilles Heel; the association’s weak joint. You have to draw from your all and ensure the BFA occupies the right pedestal in the eyes of the public.

I wish I could say performance alone will guarantee you longevity, but sadly that alone might not be enough. As previously stated, you have to align with the right forces to guarantee you are still breathing tomorrow.

Otherwise, you might be hounded and suffocated out of the position earlier than expected. Sounds like scary advice, but the BFA is littered with countless cases of hurried arrivals and departures. Don’t bother sleeping with one eye open; sleep with both closed, as whichever way the outcome might just be the same. So just get enough sleep. That said, all the best, particularly that you are the first woman to hold the position; something that will please gender activists.