BFA heads to first congress since change of guard
Mqondisi Dube | Monday August 11, 2025 10:03
Almost a year ago in Palapye, Tariq Babitseng took over the reins at what is arguably the hottest domestic sport seat. He rode on a campaign promising football development, investment in coach education and player welfare.
Tomorrow as BFA delegates gather in Jwaneng, Babitseng will be a man under the spotlight as football continues to blow hot and cold.
The build-up to the BFA general assembly has been marred by recent resignations at the Botswana Football League (BFL) which is battling a crisis after key figures jumped ship.
At the beginning of the previous season, the BFA handed back BFL’s autonomy after a brief ‘punishment’ as the league organ struggled to put its house in order.
But when trust appeared to have been restored, the BFL relapsed again with its chairperson, Peter Kesitilwe and chief executive, Bennett Mamelodi, quitting in a huff.
The BFA faced its own challenges, with Babitseng coming face-to-face with a Zebras revolt two months into the seat. The national team players threatened to down tools over unpaid allowances and some international stars felt they were ill-treated by the association.
The Babitseng administration has not decisively dealt with the issue which centred around captain Thatayaone Ditlhokwe. On the other hand, under the watch of the new leadership, the Mares have struggled to replicate results of the past after the women’s side failed to qualify for a third consecutive Africa Cup of Nations. At the WAFCON finals, the Mares could not make it past the group stages and it is back to the drawing board.
In Jwaneng, delegates will gather to discuss three motions but although developments at the BFL are likely to find space on the agenda.
There are reports of knives being out for Babitseng in some quarters, but it remains to be seen how this pans out as the new leader prepares for the pressure points.
The long awaited national women’s league is also expected to be at the table, whilst the BFL is reportedly pushing to have increased representation at the BFA. BFL’s voting power was reduced under the previous administration and it remains to be seen if the clubs will decide to return to the old arrangement.
Tomorrow, the BFA delegates will debate three motions on the review of the association’s constitution, the reintegration of the First Division under the mother body as well have new regions.
On the constitution, delegates are expected to approve the accelerated constitutional review process to ensure the BFA’s document aligns with CAF and FIFA governance standards.
The meeting will also discuss the First Division’s return to BFA’s ambit.
When the BFA handed autonomy to the BFL in 2020, the First Division was also weaned off the mother body.
But due to challenges the second tier division faces, it has been resolved that the BFA takes over its management.
“Recently, the BFL requested that the National First Division be returned to full control of the Botswana Football Association, explaining that they need time to grow and cannot manage the First Division effectively,” reads the motion.
The motion cites weak governance and instability as some of the reasons for surrendering the First Division control to the BFA.
The third motion will discuss the demarcation of some regions, which include the introduction of the Makgadikgadi Regional Football Association and the Okavango Football Association which have broken away from, the FRAFA and Nhabe regions respectively.