Government, BFA differ on Blatter
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday June 5, 2015 18:02
While the BFA president, Tebogo Sebego earlier this week admitted that they voted for Blatter at the recent FIFA congress, president Ian Khama was quoted welcoming Blatter’s resignation on UK channel, BBC, with open arms.
“There are so many people out there who could be FIFA presidents, who could do as much or even more for the continent in terms of development.
“It was so painful and such a pity that he decided to stand as FIFA president after a period that he had been presiding over so much corruption in that world body,” Khama was quoted saying.
Speaking at the Mascom Top 8 awards ceremony held on Wednesday, the minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng also expressed concern over the current developments taking place at the football world governing body. Olopeng said Botswana is very interested in good governance and transparency across all sports codes at all levels.
“Let me state categorically that I do not support how FIFA administers the affairs of football in affiliated countries,” he said. BFA president Sebego this week said they might not have been privy to certain facts before convening for the FIFA congress.
Several FIFA officials were arrested few days before the congress over corruption charges.
Despite the arrests of some of his officials, Blatter went onto garner 133 votes, while his rival Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, only managed 73 votes in the first round of voting. Hussein then withdrew before the second round of voting.
Former FIFA official, Chuck Blazer has admitted he and other executive committee members accepted bribes in return for voting South Africa as the host for the 2010 World Cup. Now former FIFA vice president, Jack Warner has also vowed to tell all regarding the dealings at FIFA.
Meanwhile, Olopeng also slammed the conduct of some of the local sports administrators. He said the decline in performance of football could be linked to self-serving and conflicted administrators.
“This has dealt a heavy blow to the performance of football. You may recall that in 1999 we won the Kings Cup in Swaziland, followed by Four Nations tournament in 2001 and then the Under-23 Four Nations tournament in China in 2007. Let us work together to return football to its glory days,” he said.
The minister also said other sporting codes are more organised and focused thus they continue to hoist the nation’s flag high.
“On the other hand challenges in football administration continue unabated, creating conflicts that discourage the majority of players and administrators who are volunteering to make a difference in sport,” he added.
The minister’s address comes in the wake of boardroom wrangle, which has delayed the conclusion of the 2014-2015 Premier League season.
The decision as to which team joins Letlapeng and ECCO City Greens in the lower division is yet to be reached with both Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Notwane and FC Satmos involved in the battle.
Olopeng added that his ministry would not condone maladministration and urged the football administrators to follow and apply rules consistently for the sake of fair play.
“Decisions of the National Appeals Board should be respected and understood without interpretations that are self serving,” he said.