BDF XI deny capturing Mabina

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Wednesday January 14, 2009 00:00

 

He explained that Mabina joined Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and not the BDF XI. He added that people should distinguish between BDF as an army and BDF XI as a football club. He said that just like any other person, Mabina applied for the officer cadet job and later got short-listed for interviews and medical examinations, which he eventually passed. 'It is untrue that Mabina is our player. As far as we are concerned, he is still a GU player.

We know the procedure of recruiting players and we would not get players from other teams by offering them jobs like people are thinking,' he said. Kesebonye further explained that the BDF has a body that is appointed by the commander to oversee issues like recruitments for the army, adding that it is an independent body that no one could interfere with. 'We, as BDF XI, have no influence about who this body should hire,' he told Mmegi Sport.

He, however, did not rule out the possibility of Mabina playing for BDF XI in future but said that proper procedures would be followed as they usually do with other players. He emphasised that despite such prospects, Mabina could not be regarded as a BDF XI player.

GU also denied that Mabina was a BDF XI player. Assistant Public Relations Officer (PRO) Malebogo Keetsaletse said that Mabina has only joined BDF and not the club. He said Mabina had applied for the job. 'It is important that anyone gets a job and we would not stop him just because we want him to play for our team,' she added. Keetsaletse however could not divulge any more information regarding the future of the player at the club. She said that the management was meeting later yesterday to discuss some of the issues at the club.

She said Mabina's case was one of those in the agenda and therefore will be able to give more information today. Mabina is a former national Under-23 player and joined GU last season from Uniao Flamengo Santos. Although he was in and out of the first team, he is seen as one of the players with bright prospects.

Meanwhile, Kesebonye also refuted allegations that BDF XI has made an offer for former striker, Mpho Mabogo to return to the team. There is speculation that BDF XI wants to re-unite with the former striker and that Mabogo is currently considering the offer.

Mabogo has however denied the allegations in one of the local publications. Mabogo's killer instinct inside the penalty area has made him one of the most feared strikers in the be Mobile Premier League.