My hands are clean – Kesitilwe
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday July 19, 2025 06:00
Kesitilwe quit the BFL on Monday, and was followed by the league's chief executive, Bennett Mamelodi the following day. The developments came days after tense BFL deliberations in Palapye where accusations of maladministration were raised. Yesterday, Kesitilwe told MmegiSport he has no skeletons in his cupboard. 'Absolutely. I leave football administration with clean hands and a clear conscience. I have never participated in maladministration,' he said when asked if he is leaving football a clean man. 'I upheld proper governance, demanded accountability, and respected structures in place. Any operational matters at the secretariat were handled through board oversight and not by personal interference or micromanagement,' he added. Kesitilwe said he found himself with no option but to leave after 'deep reflection'.
'My resignation was a decision made after deep reflection. Whilst we had just completed one of the most successful seasons in recent history, I could not allow persistent falsehoods and attacks on my integrity to continue unchallenged. I believe in ethical leadership, and when one's professional reputation is under threat from baseless narratives, stepping aside becomes an act of principle, not retreat,' he said. He denied that he meddled in the Betway sponsorship, which was one of the sore points at the BFL annual general assembly in Palapye. The online betting company had committed P1.5 million per season, to be shared amongst all clubs for a space on the teams' shirt sleeves. However, clubs rejected the deal, arguing the amount was too little.
Kesitilwe, as the chief executive officer of the betting regulator, the Gambling Authority, said he always recused himself whenever the Betway issue was discussed. 'Let me be unequivocal. I have a professional relationship with Betway in my capacity as a regulator through the Gambling Authority. Precisely because of that, I recused myself from all deliberations related to the Betway sponsorship at both board and shareholder level,' he said. 'This is a matter of public record. Even at the just-ended Palapye meeting, I excused myself and left the room during that agenda item. There is no conflict of interest – only professionalism and adherence to good governance. Any insinuations to the contrary are misleading and defamatory,' he added.
Kesitilwe said he has no regrets about joining football as he had come in to help reform the game. 'We achieved significant progress. The toxicity and unfounded attacks that occasionally dominate the local football space are unfortunate, but they cannot erase the milestones we reached together. Reform is never easy and I am proud to have played my part,' he said. Kesitilwe said unity remains a challenge within the local game, where 'personal agendas must give way to collective purpose'.