FUB awaits BFA on return of football
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday February 5, 2021 10:32
Expectations were that the football season will start this month with the Orange FA Cup quarterfinals, which were not concluded last season, but the excitement has since died following the recent suspension of all contact sports activities.
FUB being the union that represents the welfare of the players in Botswana, has said it asked the BFA and the newly established Botswana Football League (BFL) to provide a detailed plan in terms of the return to play protocols from a medical point. FUB secretary-general, Kgosana Masaseng said they wanted an update on the status of the commencement of the leagues or the two parties’ readiness to start the league including possible sponsors and the competition structure.
“Our interest is also on getting to appreciate the bounce back report, which was done in collaboration with UEFA. Regrettably, we have not been able to get details around these matters although this has a huge impact on our membership generally as some players’ contracts have come to an end, others are seeking new employment and clubs have been reluctant to take part in the transfer market as a result of the uncertainty around the start of the leagues,” Masaseng said.
The Bounce Back programme is a collaboration between the BFA and UEFA, which seeks to assist the association with a smooth return to play.
Masaseng said they want a commitment from the football stakeholders and wish to emphasise the collective and multi-stakeholder culture that must underpin the game’s recovery and rebuilding.
“The worst impact of the crisis today can be alleviated through providing immediate relief now, which include returning to play and it should of course be supported by the development of long-term post-pandemic strategies,” he said. He added that players are some of the main sources of the industry’s prosperity and must be provided with fair work to ensure that the game survives going forward. He said the union has been constantly engaging players to solicit ideas on what could be done should there be no football and the interventions they can put in place in the event football returns.
“You will also note that we recently signed a five-year agreement with Botho University and have been trying to use this period to get players to take up scholarship opportunities in order to prepare for life after football.
We have also created a business directory for players that are in businesses and are constantly being assisted to reach the market for their products.
We do not want to believe that it is too late for them to look for the alternatives. Our treasurer is also helping some with business proposals and because it is a new thing, the response from players has been very low,” he said.
He said given the overall density of match calendars, especially when the game ultimately resumes, individual load management of players is essential to prevent injuries and maintain performance ability.
He said amongst other issues that the return to play protocols must include in their plan is provision for rest after long-distance travel, mitigating fatigue, optimal medical standards and cooperation between medical and technical staff of club and national team.
“Although we are alive to the fact that teams are struggling for financial resources, we call for a culture of robust financial management and good governance to be embedded in our football as we start negotiations with players to either take pay cuts or be amenable to new proposals from their employers.
Overall, we still believe that the BFA can develop safe strategies that allow a gradual return of football even at lower divisions,” Masaseng said. He added that the union’s call is to engage on these matters to have one position as football, deal with what it means going forward, especially that these decisions have a bearing on players’ contracts.