FIFA wades into BFA technical director storm

Thato Kala | Friday February 7, 2014 17:18

FIFA technical development officer, Mauritian Govinden Thondoo, was in the country recently and together with Patrick Onyango interacted with the then technical director-in-waiting. BFA chief executive officer, Keith Masters was also present.

Upon returning to his base Thondoo shared his views with the BFA regarding Kgomela and indications are that it was negative.

A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) questioned why that report had not been shared with the rest of the committee.

“We are aware the report is with the CEO, but the question is why they have not shared this report with everyone.

We know Thondoo was in the country; why was Kgomela not assessed like what other countries do?” queried the source.

FIFA participates in technical director selection exercises when invited by associations and in Botswana’s case, Thondoo had not been officially invited, but was volunteered by FIFA development officer, Ashford Mamelodi, who is in charge of East and southern Africa.

Masters confirmed there was correspondence from FIFA and said it came after interaction between FIFA experts and the new TD.

“There was an interview between the technical director and FIFA. FIFA sent a report to the president; it was just a report to my president,” Masters said.   

Mamelodi also confirmed there was correspondence and explained that FIFA could not disqualify but only made recommendations.

“He (Thondoo) had his views which he made known to BFA, but it was nothing incriminating. It is not our place, they make the final call,” said the administrator.

FIFA, according to Mamelodi, has previously initiated the ousting of technical directors in other countries because of poor performance.

BFA president Tebogo Sebego is confident they made the right decision.

He said they needed someone who was strong administratively and believed they could develop Kgomela even further.

Sebego explained: “We are the appointing authority, so who is questioning Kgomela’s credentials?

We decided to headhunt because we could not find a suitable candidate. He meets the requirements of the job at hand. He meets the demands of that job.”

Some of the names tossed around before Kgomela’s appointment were that of former BFA technical director Losikalame Keatlholetswe and Philimon Makhwengwe, who held the position on an interim basis after BFA parted ways with Sonnyboy Sethibe.

Sethibe left the BFA last year after the association decided against renewing his contract, saying they wanted to replace him with a reputable character that would take Botswana football to greater heights.