Chess war far from over
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday January 29, 2024 15:31
During the SGM, an interim committee was appointed, which informed the executive committee about the outcome of the meeting. The executive committee confirmed receiving a report from the interim committee. The friction came ahead of the first leg of the national team selection, which was held in Gaborone over the weekend.
The BCF public relations officer, Goitsemodimo Makgatle confirmed that they were made aware of the existence of an interim committee, which was appointed during an unconstitutional SGM. “While the BCF is still investigating the matter, the federation wishes to inform the chess community and stakeholders that it is taking the matter seriously and it is treating it with the seriousness it deserves,” Makgatle said in the letter. Reacting to the ousted committee's decision to continue running BCF affairs, interim president, Kutlwano Tatolo told SportMonitor that they had anticipated that the committee would resist leaving office.
“The resistance does not come as a surprise. As an affiliate of the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), the BCF members will await BNSC’s response to the decision, such as the one to tell them and force them to vacate the office. Of course the activities that the ousted committee is conducting are void and the committee is acting without authority,” Tatolo said. She said enforcing the motion of no confidence will not be easy when faced with such disregard for the members’ wishes. “As the interim committee, we will continue to reach out to the BNSC regarding the change of office bearers,” she added. In a letter to the executive committee, written by the SGM chairperson, FIDE Master Phemelo Khetho said the executive committee should desist from representing the federation in any capacity including on financial matters or any official roles.
“The interim committee received the mandate to engage with the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), International Chess Federation (FIDE) and other stakeholders to facilitate a handover process with the outgoing committee,” the letter reads. Khetho further said the BCF president, Mooketsi Segaise, did not attend the meeting despite receiving an invitation. He said Article 12 (C) of the BCF constitution specifies that if the president fails to chair a meeting, a chairperson shall be nominated in the meeting by the clubs. The letter further states that nine out of 10 fully paid up members of the BCF attended the meeting. The letter to the executive committee said during the SGM, the members presented, deliberated and reiterated their concerns regarding the state of chess and the management of the federation. “Members collectively opted to appoint an interim committee tasked with overseeing the federation until the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for July, during which the members will determine the next course of action,” the letter reads.
Meanwhile, the national team selection proceeded as scheduled where 20 men and eight women qualified for the second stage of the process. The women will be joined by two BNSC Elite Scholarship recipients, Woman FIDE Master Naledi Marape and Woman FIDE Master Besa Masaiti. Segaise was impressed with the turn-out and national team selection tournament but did not want to comment on developments within the committee. "Indeed the national team selection's first leg of qualifiers has progressed as planned and the turn up is bare proof that the chess playing community want to play chess," he said.
"As to the issue of the alleged motion, I do not want to comment on in now because the matter is before the BNSC and we do not want to undermine their wisdom in attending to same, so I would humbly request that i do not say anything on that issue," Segaise added.