BFA, BNSC meet over FIFA ultimatum
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday June 24, 2014 17:15
FIFA issued an ultimatum last week for the constituency tournaments to be run under the BFA or Botswana risk expulsion from international competitions. The situation should be rectified by September 22.
The BFA and the BNSC did not waste time and were hard at work yesterday laying the framework as the search for a solution moved into the first gear.
BFA president, Tebogo Sebego confirmed the meeting with the national sports body although he could not divulge the contents.
“Yes we had our first meeting, but I would be comfortable if both parties share the contents. It was a preliminary discussion and it was positive,” Sebego said. He expects concrete resolutions within the next two weeks as the country moves fast to beat the September deadline.
BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said he expects to brief the acting Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Vincent Seretse before the end of the week on the metings.
“The minister is alive to these matters (concerns over constituency tournaments). He is keen to have it resolved as soon as possible. I am happy with the direction we are taking in trying to resolve this. The minister wants this done within two weeks. He has made a priority and is not waiting for (the) September (deadline),” Reikeletseng said.
Following a recent four-day fact-finding mission to the country, FIFA concluded that the contentious constituency tournaments violate the soccer governing body’s statutes.
It then ruled that they have to be run under the control of BFA or the country faces expulsion from FIFA. Apart from being cast out of FIFA and CAF tournaments, the BFA could also lose their right to participate in the FIFA Congress, nominating candidates for FIFA presidency, and taking part in FIFA’s assistance and development programmes.