�Unwanted� Johannes axed from FIFA panel

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday January 12, 2016 10:22

 

He said he had not received communication from the Botswana Football Association (BFA) regarding the latest development.

He said despite informing the BFA referees chairperson, Lesego Leaketsa about his omission nothing has been communicated.

Johannes said it was clear that he is unwanted and there is nothing he can do to force people to accept him.

“Even if they can claim that age has caught up with me, that is not true. I will be turning 45 years in June. FIFA has done away with age restriction and I fail to understand why I failed to make the cut,” he said.

Referees committee chairperson, Leaketsa, said BFA secretariat failed to give an update on why Johannes was not included on the list. He said that made it impossible for him to seek clarification on the matter. Leaketsa contradicted Johannes saying the whistle man had not attempted to question the decision to exclude him. He said it means the referee has accepted the decision and the matter has been closed.

Local FIFA accredited referees are Joshua Bondo, Kutlwano Leso, Tirelo Mositwane, Omphile Phuthego and Tshepho Gobagoba while assistant referees who made the grade are Oamogetse Godisamang, Meshack Medupi, Moemedi Monakwane, Bakwena Simankalele, Mogotsi Morakile and Kitso Sibanda. The list of women referees on the panel has Bolokanang Julia Lekgowe and Pearl Moremi while Botsalo Mosimanewatlala, Yvonne Letota and Tshepiso Ramothogobeng were named among FIFA’s assistant referees.

Meanwhile, Godisamang has been nominated to officiate at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) that starts in Rwanda on Saturday.

Leaketsa said Godisamang was selected during his assignment during the CAF African Championship Under-17 held in Senegal last year. He said CAF was just informing them but the decision had long been taken. He said his committee was not asked to submit names of other assistant referees for consideration. He said having only one official at the continental competition does not mean Botswana does not have many international officials.

“We compete with other countries for international assignments. They stand a good chance of sending more officials than us because of the high number of referees and assistant referees they have. We are hopeful that when the tournament starts, a match commissioner from here will be invited,” said Leaketsa. He said every year the number of FIFA accredited officials from Botswana increases as they also want to see themselves handling international assignments. He said on the side of assistant referees it pushes them to work hard to be promoted to referees.