Govt steals BFA, BNSC�s thunder
Mqondisi Dube | Friday September 12, 2014 13:39
It is understood that just like the agreed proposal, the two sports bodies had suggested in the rejected version that the controversial tournaments be administered by the government while the BFA takes care of the technical aspects.
“It is a similar proposal. The BFA and BNSC made the presentation to the Minister (of Sports) last month, but this was rejected outright.
It came as a surprise when the solution was adopted after a recent meeting,” a source said.
On Wednesday, the government issued a press statement outlining an agreed proposal similar to what it rejected.
The agreement would be forwarded to FIFA as the country moves to beat a September 22 deadline to streamline the running the constituency tournaments of risk a ban. FIFA has threatened to suspend Botswana from all football activities until a solution to the constituency tournaments stalemate is found.
In the statement, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ruth Maphorisa said the government would continue to administer the tournaments while the technical management will be transferred to the BFA. FIFA had argued the tournament violates its statutes and that recognised football activity should be run under a national soccer body.
After the FIFA order, government adopted a hardline stance, raising fears that no solution would be found. But the deadlock was broken after a meeting between BFA president, Tebogo Sebego and President, Ian Khama. FIFA development officer, Ashford Mamelodi and acting Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Vincent Seretse attended the meeting.
The government believes after the meeting and the proposal, the issue would be laid to rest.
“The BFA is to communicate this agreed joint role to FIFA and the expectation is that it will resolve any misunderstandings that may have occurred on the matter in the past,” Maphorisa said in the statement.
Sebego, meanwhile, said he would soon write a letter to FIFA regarding the new development.
I cannot talk about the previous proposal. That will be divisive, but I will be writing a letter to FIFA soon about our proposal. I cannot say if FIFA will accept or not but FIFA wants us to have technical control of the game,” Sebego said.
He said they acknowledge that the tournaments have been beneficial as football has reached even remote areas.