Bondo, Mojaki audio details emerge
Chakalisa Dube | Saturday September 2, 2023 06:00
The investigation by the commission came because of an audio clip where there was a discussion that highlighted the possibility of match-fixing. The discussion was between Mojaki and referee, Joshua Bondo over the phone. Bondo appeared to repel advances to influence the outcome of a Premier League match as Mojaki pleaded with him to meet up with a certain 'Zakhem'. However, Bondo indicates that he is not interested in meeting with Zakhem “as he has destroyed our football". The report has since concluded that the Zakhem being referred to is Gaborone United financer, Nicholas Zakhem. Giving testimony to the commission, Bondo said he recorded Mojaki on April 7, 2023, at 10pm. Bondo said that he only leaked the audio to his colleagues who are referees and not the public. The recording came on the eve of a top-of-the-table clash between Gaborone United and Jwaneng Galaxy. Bondo said every time he met Mojaki, the BFA employee "always says things that put him in an awkward position". Bondo told the commission, chaired by Leviet Ntwaagae, of an incident when the two met at Sir Seretse Khama Airport while the referee was on his way out of the country to officiate a CAF match. Mojaki reportedly told the referee that there was a security company offering to install a security alarm at his (Bondo) place. “Mr Bondo initially did not want to mention the security company by name but indicated that it owned a Premier League team.
When quizzed further to mention the name of the team, he said it was Security Systems Football Club,” reads the report. According to the document, Bondo reportedly declined the offer for the security alarm. Bondo told the commission that referee Tshepo Gogagoba Mokani was present. Concerning match-fixing allegations, Bondo said he was surprised to receive a call from Mojaki ahead of the Galaxy clash as they hardly talk. “In respect of the accusations made during the telephone call that Mr Zakhem was destroying our football, he referred to a couple of encounters with him. He related an incident at Lekidi where they almost got into a physical altercation after Zakhem told him that he did not want him to officiate at GU matches,” reads Bondo’s submissions to the commission.
During cross-examination by the commission, Mojaki gave several reasons for his call to Bondo. He told the three-man commission in one account that he saw on social media that there were people who were allegedly chasing the referee for the Jwaneng Galaxy and Gaborone United clash and he wanted to find out whether Bondo was the referee being "chased". Mojaki also said he heard that Bondo had been suspended by CAF and wanted to jokingly tell him to officiate the match properly. He even said he had no intention of meeting Bondo as he was on his way to the cattle post. Mojaki further denied that he had been sent by Zakhem. The other admission made by Mojaki was that he met Bondo a couple of times at the airport but denied ever offering to have anyone install a security alarm system at the latter’s home. Mojaki speculated that the audio recording of his conversation with Bondo was leaked to tarnish Zakhem’s image, possibly by persons in a different footballing camp to one of the GU director. According to the report, the commission established that there was no evidence of match-fixing but concluded that disciplinary action should be proffered against Mojaki because his conversation with Bondo was very inappropriate. The BFA has not stated if action has been taken against Mojaki or not but he has since returned to work after suspension. “It is unclear as to why Mojaki wanted to meet with Bondo ahead of the league match between Jwaneng Galaxy and Gaborone United given their apparent dislike for one another. We doubt that the purpose of the meeting would have been to facilitate a meeting between Mr Zakhem and Mr Bondo, given their apparent dislike for one another,” reads one of the key findings of the report presented to BFA two months ago.
Zakhem has maintained his innocence and said that he does not know why his name was mentioned in the telephone call that triggered the investigation. Mojaki, meanwhile, refused his right of reply when Mmegi sought his comment on the statements he uttered to the commission. He maintained that he did not sanction the report and referred enquiries to the association. He added that he is bound by the commission’s confidentiality clause not to disclose anything relating to the investigation.
The BFA has maintained that it cannot discuss the contents of the report with the media because it has been shared with relevant parties being CAF and the Botswana National Sport Commission. On the other hand, Bondo told Mmegi that he did not want to comment on the leaked report.