Lukewarm BFA assembly on the cards

Mqondisi Dube | Friday July 31, 2015 18:00

Seeking autonomy: BPL chief executive officer, Bennet Mamelodi (left) and BFA president, Tebogo Sebego are not new to the autonomy debate. PIC: KABO MPAETONA

The elephant in the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) room is likely to be a motion on the Premier League’s autonomy.

For years, the Premier League has advocated for autonomy as it seeks greater independence in running of its own affairs. However, a delegate said the motion might be shot down once again as there is a feeling that last season’s events would work against adopting the idea.

“Others would argue that the Premier League is not ready judging by what happened last season, which was marred by protests and had an ugly finish,” the delegate said.

However, the matter would continue to be discussed between the BFA executive committee and the Premier League.

Another matter to be tabled before the meeting is the Central north’s request to breakaway from the north bloc.

The central north includes Serowe and surrounding areas and the leadership believes it is impractical to be part of a bloc that includes the Nhabe region.

“They argue distance is a factor and would rather be incorporated in the east bloc which has Tswapong and Selebi-Phikwe regions,” the delegate said.

Tomorrow’s meeting is expected to ratify the dismissal of former vice president (administration), Tariq Babitseng. Babitseng was suspended last year pending an investigation into alleged abuse of funds emanating from the Zebras’ trip to Guinea Bissau.

Meanwhile, the BFA would hold a special general meeting in August to discuss constitutional amendments following the FIFA, constituency tournaments impasse.

The constitution would be amended to accommodate the constituency tournaments and in the process, comply with FIFA statutes. FIFA had, last year, argued the government initiative was violating its statutes and was supposed to run under the ambit of the BFA.