NAB dashes BDF XI hopes
Staff Writer | Thursday June 5, 2014 10:52
In addition to the points deduction, BDF XI were fined P10,000. Attempts by the club to overturn the punishment appear to have suffered a death-blow on Tuesday when the sports National Appeals Board (NAB) rejected its case.
The board said BDF XI had failed to follow proper procedure in lodging the appeal. The appeal was lodged on the 30-day deadline. At the time when they were deducted points, BDF XI were perched at the summit of the log and appeared to be running away with the title. They ended the season as runners up behind Township Rollers after losing six points.
They appealed the sentence arguing that they were pressed for time hence their decision to seek the court’s intervention in the matter that landed them in trouble. In any case, the High Court ruled in their favour. BDF XI had challenged the Botswana Premier League’s decision to postpone their league match in favour of a friendly game. The friendly involved Mochudi Centre Chiefs and their South African counterparts, Kaizer Chiefs. After winning at the High Court, BDF XI celebrations were cut short when they were punished by the BPL Disciplinary Committee for taking football matters to court. They lodged an appeal with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Disciplinary Committee, which upheld the BPL decision. The BFA appeal was thrown out because the club failed to justify why it wanted the sentence to be reduced. BDF XI then sought a reprieve from the NAB and suffered another setback which is likely to put an end to the long running saga.