Netball clubs react: To change or not to change
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday May 7, 2021 14:47
On the other hand, others believe the current leadership deserves a second chance. However, some feel the incumbent, Malebo Raditladi-Nkgakile deserves a second chance to lead netball until 2024. Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Florah Kedibonye of BDF Cats opined Raditladi-Nkgakile has done a good job so far.
“She is leading us in the right direction. All along we did not know the position of clubs, either they were compliant or not. When she took over the position, she came across many challenges and there was no money. There were also some challenges, especially the financial reports that were not audited for many years,” she said.
Kedibonye added as clubs they wanted the 2017 financial report and it was finally presented.
She said there was no sponsorship and even before Raditladi-Nkgakile’s term, netball was not being played. She said the incumbent found many administrative challenges that she spent a lot of time trying to address. She added that those challenges distracted her from implementing her roadmap.
“Change is always difficult for clubs, they used to do things their way without being monitored. Now when she put her foot down on governance and that clubs must be compliant, they felt she was difficult. Previously, when we went for AGMs, there were around 18 clubs from both north and south. Right now, there are only eight clubs and some have been dropped by compliance. It is a sign that the majority of them were not compliant,” she said.
Despite that, Kedibonye said Raditladi-Nkgakile also has her own flaws. She explained that normally presidents were given more than one term and the same thing must be extended to the incumbent. She said it would be unfair to judge her now.
Kealeboga Makgosa of Police said it would be up to the club to decide whom they want. However, Makgosa said there is a need for new leadership. “Netball used to be one of the greatest codes in the country. We
attended two world cups. If taken seriously by leadership, this country could be a powerhouse. Our senior and Under 21 teams were in the top 15, but since 2014 they dropped until today. Right now netball is dead,” he said.
Makgosa added the COVID-19 pandemic should not be used as an excuse. He argued that netball even failed to come up with a return to play protocols like other National Sport Associations (NSA).
He said sponsors have pulled out because there is nothing attractive at netball. “I expect tomorrow’s meeting to bring change. It is the first AGM to shake the netball foundation. The campaigns are massive unlike before when candidates were unopposed. If the incumbent wins, she would work on her weaknesses,” Makgosa said.
Martin Fellah of Vipers Club also said there is a need to change leadership. “As male netball players, we have long been promised to be included in the BONA constitution so we could get sponsors and play the league.
It looks like it was a campaign strategy by the incumbent leadership,” he said. Fellah said the leadership has failed netball and that they were puzzled by the postponement of the AGM last month. Fellah said they were informed that some clubs were non-compliant.
“The same person who said that was voted into power by the same
non-compliant clubs. Does that mean she was illegitimately voted into office? After so many years, those clubs have been voting, why are they called out now,” Fellah decried. Clubs that are in good standing are BDF Cats, Notwane, Prisons,
Thamaga Jaspers, Vipers, Jungle Queens, UB Crystals and Tafic.