BNSC board to meet over BOKA crisis

Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday January 14, 2015 15:36

 

The meeting follows a report, which was compiled by a BNSC task force to look into the BOKA leadership crisis.

BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said BNSC board member, Falcon Sedimo headed the task force, which handed over the report in December.

The task force was set up following resignations, which rocked BOKA towards the end of the year, with up to four members quitting at one stage.

He said BNSC was concerned with developments at BOKA hence the task force.  

Reikeletseng said the board would implement the recommendations of the report.

“We cannot have people resigning and coming back in the committee. Our role as BNSC is to intervene especially when there is leadership crisis. We cannot sit and do nothing. We did the same at the Botswana Athletics Association a few years back and everything was resolved,’ he said.

Reikeletseng stated that they would continue to intervene as long as BOKA remained their affiliate. He pointed out that being a BNSC affiliate, they have to abide by its rules.

Meanwhile, BOKA was expected to elect a new president on Saturday after the resignation of Tshepo Bathai in December.

Bathai, citing one of the reasons for his resignation, said they could have ably handled their internal squabbles had it not been for interference from the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC).

BOKA sports development officer, China Metswi told Mmegi Sport yesterday that he had not received any communication about elections. He said this meant elections would not be held this weekend.

Metswi said the association was running with four committee members being the vice president, public relations officer, secretary general and the treasurer. He observed that the absence of a president was affecting the running of the association and highlighted that a calendar of events for this year was not even out.

“I am not aware of any clause that allows for the president to be co-opted and that means we just have to wait for elections,” Metswi said.

The instability of the committee affected the performance of the national team, according to Metswi. He pointed out that the national team failed to participate in Zone Six, Union Federation of African Karate (UFAK) games and the karate World Cup.

Despite that, Metswi said they managed to send Khaya Groth and Mpho Bakwadi for training in America. He added that three karatekas, Thato Malunga, Boitumelo Koone and Tebogo Molapong also went to Belgium for training.

BOKA public relations officer, Andrew Dobolo said affiliates would be invited for a meeting next week. He explained that during the meeting, a date for elections would be decided. He pointed out that the entire executive committee will be dissolved and new leaders given the responsibility to guide the association.