These Englishmen need not lose sight of what they are here for

Thuso Palai | Tuesday September 16, 2014 11:02

A few months down the line, their relationship, seems to have soured. What transpired last week in our eyes is a clear indication that the two Englishmen in BFA CEO Keith Masters and National team coach Peter James Butler   have reached a point of return.

Jealous. Bitter. Sabotage. Amateur. These are just some of the words that PJ Butler used when addressing the media about his strained relationship with Masters. Instead of referring to him by name, Butler kept referring to this ‘man down the corridor’. Although I knew who he was talking about, I asked him to leave nothing to speculation and to mention who the ‘man down the corridor’ is. And he obliged.

Conspicuous by his absence from the Press conference was Keith Masters, who usually attends such.  Butler was not mincing his words and he made it clear that he is not happy with Masters as he seems hell bent to get him and make his job difficult.

It seems like their relationship is irreparable and one might have to go. From what I gathered, PJ Butler made it clear that he is not happy with Masters and if it were possible he would not want to work with him. He even threated to be on the next flight out to the UK, and that is where the rumours of a resignation came from.

The two men reportedly had a heated argument and one said something to the effect that he would resign immediately. That just shows how bad the situation is. It seems like PJ Butler has made it clear to all that he is not happy working with Masters and this presents a major challenge for Sebego and his leadership.

Butler says he has a good working relationship with most people at the Association, including most importantly, Sebego and his NEC and his staff. He even mentioned that the only reason he is still here is because of Sebego and Tariq Babitseng who have been a marvel to work with. However, he did not hesitate to state his disappointment with ‘the man down the corridor’, making it very clear that their relationship has reached boiling point.

Although there are many speculations, it seems like Butler feels that Masters is not helping him much and instead of helping him, he is working against him. He even went to the extent of calling Master an amateur. Masters did not take kindly to that and was quoted elsewhere saying that Butler should concentrate on preparing the team and getting results and leave administration issues to administrators.

I read in one of the newspapers that Masters took a swipe at the media for always being negative. Believe you me, if there is something positive to report the media will do that, and if there is something negative to report the media will report on that as well. If Masters does well, I’m pretty sure he will get plaudits, even from the media, so he should not cry ‘negativity’ when shortcomings are highlighted.  I wonder if he also blames the media for his argument with Butler. Using the media as a scapegoat when there are issues to be resolved won’t help much or miraculously wipe away the problems. 

As things stand, Sebego is caught between a rock and a hard place.   He has to act swiftly to mediate between the two men before the situation worsens. Something needs to be done about the situation, lest it affects many things at Lekidi, especially around this time of the AFCON qualifiers, when the National team coach should be working closely with the Chief Executive Officer. 

Sebego has to immediately intervene and play peacemaker. By the look of things, if someone was to be sacrificed, many would go for Masters. The BFA CEO has not won over many, while Butler has become the darling of the Nation. Even though he has not achieved much yet, it seems like many that follow football have hope that he will turn around our fortunes and would love for him to stay. The odds are therefore stacked against Masters, who many feel has not done much for our football. 

At the end of the day, both men need to be reminded of what they are here for and they should not lose sight of that. They are here to help move our football forward and their differences should not be at our detriment. I cannot sit here and proclaim who is right or wrong, but I’m worried that the two men, holding very important portfolios and should be working side by side harmoniously, are at loggerheads.

Their soured relations cannot augur well for our football, as it might stall progress. Instead of focusing on football development and achieving results, they are exerting energy, thoughts and time on side, personal issues. I can only hope that they sit around a table and resolve their differences and move on. They need not lose sight of what they are here for.