Match-fixing concerns rock netball
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday June 8, 2026 10:00
The match-fixing reports have forced the association to cancel the men's netball finals, which were scheduled for this weekend at the Royal Aria Indoor Arena. According to information reaching MmegiSport, a meeting was held between team managers and BONA president, Mpopi Moatlhodi, this week, where the decision to cancel the men’s league was announced. It is alleged that Notwane reported a match-fixing incident to the South Zone committee, and the matter was escalated to the executive committee due to a lack of evidence. During the meeting, clubs argued that there was no communication that was circulated to Division A clubs regarding the match-fixing matter. The executive committee was also accused of failing to decide as per BONA play and regulations when dealing with the matter.
BDF Cats spokesperson, Fortune Ketlhaetse, is worried the issue will tarnish the game of the sport, emphasising that his club was not involved in incidents that led to the cancellation of the finals. He said it was surprising that there are some allegations of match fixing in a league that has no prize money. “We are busy looking for sponsors and partners to host our annual Find The Ball tournament with cash prize money of P50,000 for women and P30,000 for men, a first of its kind in Botswana to play for such amounts,” he said. “The whole issue is likely to affect our negotiations with potential sponsors. Cats men were the log leaders, with a chance of being champions. A decision like this kills moral and hope.” Moatlhodi stated that the netball league comes to an end over the weekend, and there would be no other games played afterwards. She confirmed that the men’s league finals have been cancelled and the matter of match fixing is under investigation. “It is unfortunate that men are causing trouble in women’s sport when they should be supporting women.
“Right now, we are busy with league finals preparations and faced with financial challenges because we want the games to be played in an indoor facility,” Moatlhodi added. She said some men are good at netball, but they are being compromised by decisions taken by a few individuals. Police Netball Club representative, Dada Montwedi, denied his club's involvement in the alleged match-fixing activities. Montwedi said the decision to cancel men’s finals is an indication of institutional decay from the executive. He said the other thing that is very clear is that BONA has a NEC that is partial and biased in how they treat affiliates and clubs alike. Montwedi said the exclusion of men means reversing the efforts of inclusivity, and it is up to netball leadership to find a solution. “It is unfortunate that a whole executive can be convinced on the basis of hearsay. When you lay charges or punishment for match fixing, the first in line to be confronted should be the officials.
In this case, no official has been summoned, but there was a competition manager and an umpire, and both did not submit a report indicating any incidence of match fixing. A team that felt deserve more out of the results of matches they did not take part in, was entertained to lodge a complaint,” Montwedi said. TAFIC refused to comment on the matter citing ongoing investigations, while no immediate comment could be obtained from Prisons. Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Notwane, which raised alarm over match-fixing allegations, has been suspended. However, it is said the suspension is over compliance issues. It has also been alleged that the club's suspension has to do with their complaints over the vice president, technical, Onkabetse Kesekang. However, Moatlhodi denied that Notwane has been suspended, suspecting that confusion could have been caused by the wording in a letter to clubs reminding them of compliance matters. She said that it is nothing out of the ordinary, but just a reminder to all clubs that if they do not fix their compliance status, they would not be eligible to attend the AGM and that applies to all clubs, and not only Notwane. She dismissed the Notwane suspension claims as untrue.
She explained that compliance certificates for most clubs expire in April, and clubs submit their returns to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to be in good standing. “They will be ineligible for the next season only if they are not compliant by the time we get to AGM. I wonder where that allegation comes from. Before the AGM, we verify compliance status for all affiliates and inform each of them accordingly,” Moatlhodi said. Whilst the men's finals have been cancelled, the women's finals will proceed as scheduled. Division A has Cats, Jwaneng, Police and TASC, whilst Prisons, UB Crystal, Morupule and Uprising Stars are in Division B. In the Under-17 category, there are Thamaga Jaspers, Moepo, Cats, and the Mogoditshane Centre of School of Excellence.