Challengers emerge in BFA race
Mqondisi Dube | Friday January 22, 2016 14:31
The elections will be held between July and August when the BFA holds its annual general assembly. Although Ramotlhwa could not confirm nor deny interest in standing, sources said the veteran administrator’s campaign has already been rolled out.
“He is interested,” a source said.
Ramotlhwa said it is only fair to let those in office run football and not bring unnecessary distractions.
“Let’s give them a chance, the year has just started. Let the season end and if people want to contest that is when we can talk about it. For now, let’s give them the chance to run football,” Ramotlhwa said.
It is said former BFA vice president, administration, Boyce Sebetela and former Mochudi Centre Chiefs chairperson, Maclean Letshwiti all turned down overtures to challenge for the top post. However, Sebetela said he had not been approached and doubts if he would be returning to football anytime soon.
“No one has talked to me about it. I haven’t even thought about it (contesting). I don’t think I will be returning to football anytime soon, it’s hectic,” Sebetela said.
Letshwiti also denied he had been approached to challenge Sebego. He has been critical of the current leadership.
He also denied that he was sponsoring any candidate following reports he was backing Ramotlhwa.
“I wasn’t approached and I am not sponsoring anybody. I will only support a capable candidate, someone who has a plan for football. I don’t have time (to stand), if I had I would stand,” Letshwiti said. He bemoaned the state of affairs at BFA.
“(It’s) totally derailed, anybody can see that. The biggest problem is understanding the functions of the BFA. If we can get the right leader. People must learn to listen. If you criticise, the intention is to make them better leaders,” he said.
Letshwiti faces mounting pressure to contest with a number of influential individuals reportedly not giving up on convincing him to stand.
Former Botswana National Sports Council chairperson, Dr Daniel Tau was another possible candidate some affiliates intend to approach.
As elections approach, BFA internal wars have escalated as jostling for positions take centre stage. All executive committee positions would be up for grabs.
Meanwhile, another explosive executive committee meeting is on the cards where the awarding of a tender for the restructuring of the association would be the elephant in the room.