Bathai bows out of BOKA

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday December 12, 2014 20:27

 

The outgoing BOKA president said that internal squabbles in BOKA were easy to handle but not the interference from Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC).

He accused his detractors of peddling falsehoods against him.

He said some officials have no respect for the BOKA constitution. “I could not operate in such an environment and that is why I decided to quit.

I came into office with a new turnaround strategy that was meant to change the status of the association.

The initiative did not go well with some BOKA affiliates,” he said.

Bathai pointed out that karate coaches have sub-standard qualifications – even those handling the national team.

“We cannot have Standard Seven as a qualification for our national squad coaches,” he lashed out saying he has corrected the situation in a new coaching framework making some people unhappy.

He said that BOKA would elect a new executive committee on the day of his departure. During his reign, Bathai said he helped form the Botswana Karate Foundation, established the BOKA website and a funeral scheme. Plans are also underway to start a Botswana Premier Karate League.

Bathai’s decision to quit BOKA comes after the resignation of four committee members in October.

Two of the officials have since changed their minds on the resignations.

The four who had walked away were vice president-administration, Lere Basupang, public relations officer, Andrew Dobolo, vice secretary general, Kemmonye Seletamotse and treasurer, Bontle Charles.

Meanwhile, Masumbika told Mmegi Sport that he did not want to associate himself with the developments at BOKA. He stated that Bathai’s resignation is not good news for karate.

“We did not do well in karate this year. We did not participate in Zone Six, Union Federation of African Karate (UFAK) games and the World Cup and as affiliates, we were not informed about what is happening,” he said.

Masumbika said meetings were postponed because members were not forming a quorum and some committee members resigned.

He stated that Bathai’s resignation was a sensitive matter and he can only make comments after the departure of the outgoing BOKA boss. Masumbika is Zone Six president and third president of UFAK.