First Division South bemoans Letlapeng case delay
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday June 19, 2014 15:02
The committee’s vice chairperson, Sam Keitireng has said that the case that is now before the sports National Appeals Board (NAB) has disrupted planning for the new season. He said they do not have a choice but to wait for the NAB decision that will be delivered next week after a hearing last Tuesday. “The case has taken longer than we thought. Botswana is hosting COSAFA games in September and that means we have to start the league early,” said Keitireng.
The see-saw battle started when Black Forest challenged the declaration of Letlapeng as First Division South champions. They said the declaration that meant Letlapeng have earned automatic promotion to the Premier League should be voided because the Ramotswa side had fielded an ineligible player in the game against them. Black Forest moved to Botswana Football Association Disciplinary Committee (DC) after the First Division South League committee dismissed their case. The DC quashed the decision of the lower committee, a development that pushed Black Forest to the top of log and relegated Letlapeng to second spot. However, the First Division South League Committee threw a major spanner in the works when it maintained that Letlapeng are still champions because Black Forest benefited from ‘soft points’.
At the NAB, both Black Forest and Letlapeng are confident of a win. Forest chairperson, Mompati Ditiro believes they stand a chance of winning the case, while his Letlapeng counterpart, Sydney Magagane said their focus is on pre-season preparations because they are confident the true picture will emerge soon. “We started pre-season training last week. If we have done something wrong in acquiring the services of (Nelson) Sibanda (the player in question), we will be told. Right now it is a challenge to sign new players because of the pending judgement,” Magagane said. He stated that five players have agreed in principle to join Letlapeng when the case ends.