Sebego�s COSAFA reference an insult

Dennis Keagile | Friday October 3, 2014 09:48

It is by all intents and purposes, very disappointing to many people. I also happened to listen to the BFA president, Tebogo Sebego on RB2 and he was not convincing as he was saying we have to start with the COSAFA Cup, which we have already done, through the COSAFA Under-20.

Besides COSAFA is not demanding as all that is required is a sponsor. COSAFA does not set standards for training pitches, it does not set standards for lighting and there is nothing that the various organs of government can really learn from. Sebego did not state the real reason behind the association’s failure to bid.

For me it was a combination of naïveté on the part of the association and a total disregard of protocol.

The moment CAF declared that 2017 was open, what the association ought to have done first was to consult the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) on the matter.

The reason the 2010 bid never saw the light of day or pass the initial stage was because the Phillip Makgalemele-led administration did not consult or engage the BNSC for a buy-in hence the remarks that ‘Phillip o a phapa’ meaning he was too fast and out of order as he seemed to disregard his immediate bosses (the BNSC).

Now the BNSC through its chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng has expressed apprehension on the matter. The BNSC chair expressed strong statements saying he just hopes people have not made any commitment. For me the BNSC chair was just trying to be diplomatic because by then there was no official position on the part of the BFA otherwise he had no business to say anything. In other words he need not have reacted to street talk involving one of his affiliates.

The reason I am disappointed with the BFA position is that it missed a great chance to fix the mistakes of 2008. These mistakes are in the construction of the City of Francistown Stadium and the renovation of the National Stadium as well as the New Lobatse Stadium.

The construction has taken too long and bidding for the 2017 was going to be a consolation. I think Botswana would have won because of her strong economy and relative peace and security. Now the BFA or Botswana has to wait for a further 10 or so years.

This goes against numerous findings that for Botswana to fast track her infrastructure development as well as human resource development, the country has to try by all means to host major tournaments. To talk of COSAFA as a barometer is to insult the people of Botswana. Botswana ought to bid either for the FIFA World Cup and CAF junior tournaments. There is also the FIFA World Cup for women for all categories.

I am therefore disappointed that as Sebego settles in as BFA president he seems to lose the focus and spirit that brought him to the helm of the association. Simply put, it looks like he will betray the revolution, if he has not done that already. Perhaps this explains why Segolame Ramotlhwa wanted to go in as vice president. I expect the association to put a lot of pressure on government to help host one of the major tournaments.

We cannot afford to be lackadaisical about hosting. Botswana has the second or third strongest stable economy after South Africa and Mauritius in southern Africa.

More than 10years ago former South African Minister of Sport, the late Steve Tshwete said that governments should stop boasting about having built many hospitals and prisons as this was a sign of a sick nation but should rather boast about having more recreational facilities where people can train and enjoy themselves.

I therefore wonder why the BFA could not approach the BNSC on the matter. In 2006 and 2008 the estimated cost of hosting was P1billion but this time it was going to be far much less. In 2016 Botswana will be celebrating 50years of self-rule but on the sporting front will still be a nonentity. Once Zimbabwe recovers from the economic malaise, it will be difficult for Botswana to match.

 

CAF Champions League

Although the dream CAF champions league final between TP Mazembe and AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo did not materialise, there is something to take note about DRC football. At club level it seems to be very solid as every year it has two or three clubs going far in CAF competitions. Perhaps it is worth investigating or exchanging notes as to what keeps this league ticking because in terms of sponsorship it does not come anyway near the sponsorship that our Premier League enjoys. Why then are the clubs not crying foul about the association but instead continue to show a lot of resilience. In the DRC there are two other clubs DC Motema Pembe and St Lupopo. We also now know of Don Bosco courtesy of Mochudi Centre Chiefs, which sold some its players there two or so years ago although some have returned sighting all sorts of challenges. It therefore looks like other countries take CAF competition seriously and will do whatever it takes to compete.

In terms of sponsorship money, the Premier League is now ranked 6th highest sponsored league in Africa, ahead of Egypt yet our league is not as competitive as the DRC league or Egyptian league. South African league has more money but not yet as competitive as the leagues in Egypt and other countries if we use CAF competition as a barometer. There is therefore need to exchange notes beyond South Africa.