BFA seeks FIFA deadline extension
Mqondisi Dube | Friday July 25, 2014 16:41
However, as the deadline draws closer, the BFA, the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) are still to find a solution because the government is refusing to cede ground.
BFA president, Tebogo Sebego said it is apparent that there would be no compliance with the ultimatum by the FIFA deadline.
“We are going to have more engagements. It was our first time to meet the minister (acting Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Vincent Seretse) yesterday (Wednesday). We need more time. There are quite a number of issues to look into,” Sebego said.
He said the government wants clarity on certain issues after the BFA and the BNSC presented their solution to the problem. “There are issues related to the BFA constitution. These constitutional matters might make it difficult to finalise the issue on time,” Sebego said.
BFA is prepared to approach FIFA to seek an extension. Wednesday’s meeting involving BFA, BNSC and government officials reportedly failed to make headway.
The two sports bodies were asked to prove how the tournaments violate FIFA statutes, a source said.
“It was a very difficult meeting. But in the middle of all that, we identified areas of commonality,” the source said.
The BFA and BNSC thought they had hammered a breakthrough after coming up with a position paper, which was presented to Seretse on Wednesday. But they left the meeting disappointed after their proposal to have the tournaments run under the BFA but funded by the government was rejected.
When FIFA issued the ultimatum, BFA and BNSC were confident a solution would be reached within 14 days. But this has proved an arduous task, which require more time.
BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng might have attended his last meeting as Seretse names his successor tomorrow.