After a brief pause, BFL feud heads into round two
Mqondisi Dube | Friday July 24, 2026 10:19
BFL chairperson Sipho Showa and his board are still standing despite a hurricane forecast heading into the shareholders' gathering at Lekidi Centre. Predictions of a swift fall of the board appeared to have been off the mark as Showa and his board lived to see another day. In fact, as the BFL prepares for its annual gathering next week, Showa is still holding firm.
However, indications are that the fight is far from over; rather, the BFL AGM will be used as round two of the feud. It is unclear who will emerge victorious after some shareholders' coup d'état hit a cul-de-sac due to the absence of constitutional provisions for a motion of no confidence. They will go again next week, sources say. Reports are that Showa and the board are emboldened by constitutional gaps over a motion to remove the board.
'The knives are still out, but the sticking point again will be the absence of a constitutional provision to remove the board. The complaints from the same shareholders about the board still stand, but it is how they will go about their mission that is still a subject of debate,' a source said.
The Botswana Football Association (BFA) Arbitration Tribunal was expected to intervene after the shareholders' meeting, but it is reported that the aggrieved members abandoned that route. The BFA body was due to receive a letter on the direction regarding the removal of the body, but it remains unclear why the shareholders developed cold feet.
But reports are that the fight is far from over as a second attempt to get rid of the board over allegations of maladministration gathers pace. The shareholders have reportedly expressed fear that even if they succeed in removing the board, there could be resistance.
'Showa will refuse to abide by the resolution (of removing the board),' one of the aggrieved shareholders said. But it is said that the main contention will again be the motion of no confidence. 'There is nowhere in the Constitution where it says a board can be removed through a motion of no confidence. If it were, there would be a clearly laid-out process for both parties to submit their cases before a neutral body. There is also no provision for interim committee, something which is not provided for in the Constitution,' the source added. Battle lines are drawn as representatives of the top flight prepare to meet next week.