The rise, fall and rise of Reikeletseng

Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday July 30, 2024 09:32

One day in 2021, the nation woke to a shocking black and white image of Reikeletseng placed under the Botswana Police’s ‘wanted person’ section. By then, Reikeletseng was already a far cry from the rocking, bubbly and assertive sports administrator who had held the longest reign as BNSC chairperson. The phoenix lived for 500 years before it built its funeral pyre where it burst into flame and died.

In contrast, Reikeletseng was at the helm of the BNSC for eight years before being pushed out of office by then Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tshekedi Khama in 2019. It marked the start of a downward spiral, which sent the Francistown native from a rising go-getter into reclusiveness. After controversies and personal troubles, Reikeletseng emerged out of mothballs this past weekend when he won the trust of Francistown South Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members to be their representative when the country goes to the polls in October.

After all the trials and tribulations, Reikeletseng is now one hurdle away from Parliament, or metaphorically, just one step away from completing his phoenix moment. During his time as the BNSC boss, Reikeletseng was on the fast lane and given credit for his work ethic, which was as powerful as three dozens locomotives. At the helm of the sporting body, Reikeletseng oversaw the first world champion, Amantle Montsho in 2011 as well as the success of the Zebras Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification, a year later.

He was still the man in charge when Nijel Amos delivered Botswana’s first-ever Olympic Games medal in 2012. One could literally take him to the edge of any cliff and Reikeletseng could fly over any obstacle. He had the world firmly under his feet. Away from the sports boardroom, Reikeletseng had set-up Itekanele Health Scheme, the country’s first indigenous medical aid, which defied the odds during its infancy stages.

But just when everyone thought he was flying and destined for even greater heights, Reikeletseng’s life hit unexpected turbulence. His wings were unwittingly clipped. The phoenix, according to Greek Mythology, was a feathered creature of great size with talons and wings and its plumage radiant and beautiful. But consumed in its fiery inferno it burnt to ashes.

Reikeletseng said he resigned because of the love he has for the sport. “I would not allow any of my personal and business arrangements to affect the work that has been done by men and women of this country for more than five decades. Batswana deserve better. In my execution of national duty, there are many that I have wronged, hurt and pained. I open my heart and arms to you and ask for forgiveness.

“The nature of my wrongdoing was never personal but simply a means to facilitate a national agenda,” he said as he self-destructed like a phoenix.

It was later revealed that Reikeletseng, the sports bird, was unceremoniously shot from the sky because of bad publicity, which was by extension bad for the reputation of the ministry. Speaking of bad reputation, Reikeletseng was facing personal challenges, where his medical aid provider, Itekanele Health Scheme was shut down by the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA) due to non-compliance, while his music promotion company, Medumo Entertainment, was in the news for allegedly failing to settle a P15, 000 accommodation bills in Maun. His business empire started crumbling as he plunged into debts with his houses being auctioned.

He was also pushed out of The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA) position as the new Tumiso Rakgare administration shoved him further out of the sports limelight. He was down and out but the biggest shame of it all was when the Botswana Police Service indicated that Reikeletseng was a wanted person requesting the public to provide them with information about his whereabouts. The former BNSC chair was wanted in connection with the offence of “failure to pay hotel fees” according to the Police Facebook post then. Police spokesperson, Dipheko Motube, confirmed that Reikeletseng was wanted for a 2019 offence.

Since then, Reikeletseng kept a low profile and now he relishes the chance to return to fly with the big birds in Parliament if he manages to unseat incumbent Francistown legislator, Wynter Mmolotsi, a seemingly impossible task. He is being reborn after almost total destruction. He wants a comeback so grand to deserve the headlines after the October polls. Reikeletseng first emerged into the spotlight in one local media house decades ago as an athlete with the headline ‘Enter the dragon’. He is no Bruce Lee but his story would be epic if he manages to defeat a Goliath like Mmolotsi. So far he has managed to follow the script of a blockbuster movie where the hero loses everything, only to rally back in an even more classic fashion. He rose from the ashes, refreshed and he is ready to conquer the political world, which is difficult compared to his background as an athlete and sports administrator.

He has done well so far for a political starter and to the astonishment of the political establishment, he successfully cast himself as someone to watch out for after beating favourite, Modiri Lucas, in the primaries in a bitter fight for the candidacy.

It is said Reikeletseng was the BDP’s preferred candidate and some are already seeing him as the next sports minister if he manages to unseat Mmolotsi and his party wins the election. His credentials speak volumes but they will have to wait for October. It is also reported that Reikeletseng, who grew up in the constituency, is seen by the party as somebody who can give Mmolotsi a run for his money. During the time that he was out of the game, Reikeletseng stitched alliances like no other and his acumen in sports administration ensured there are no chinks in the armour. Reikeletseng could perhaps fly beyond the clouds again, that is if he manages to shoot down the seemingly invincible Mmolotsi.