Temporary cease fire as BFA general assembly postponed

Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday August 18, 2020 09:14

 

Temporary cease fire as BFA general assembly postponed

The postponement was due to COVID-19 restrictions, and would see a temporary break from what has been a relentless, roller-coaster campaign.

Incumbent president, Maclean Letshwiti was scheduled to go head-to-head with his predecessor, Tebogo Sebego and the association’s former Chief Executive Officer, Ookeditse Malesu.

However, due to COVID-19 protocols, the meeting would now take place at a later date, with the Letshwiti committee remaining in charge for the foreseeable future.

Meetings are limited to only 50 people, and the BFA general assembly draws nearly 200 delegates.

Travel between zones remains restricted, and this would have presented a challenge for delegates travelling from outside Francistown.

“We have been informed that under the prevailing conditions, it is not permissible to move across zones in pursuant to attending meetings. The BFA shall convene to review the available options and shall advise all stakeholders accordingly,” the BFA said in a statement on Monday.

All had been set for a no-holds-barred contest, with a tantalizing presidential contest. Letshwiti has banked on what he describes as a key four years where he introduced some reforms, but admits there is need for time to finish some of the projects, as his supporters push for continuity.

Sebego on the other hand, argues he has unfinished business after his four-year tenure between 2012 and 2016.

Malesu’s campaign has been anchored on ‘Re isa kgwele ko bathong’, with the former administrator saying he wants to clean the image of the game.

Both Sebego and Malesu had written to FIFA challenging the legitimacy of the current committee, but the world soccer governing body had earlier indicated that it fully supports any decision to move the elections, with health considerations coming first. It stated that the current committee would remain in office until such a time it was conducive to go to the polls.

The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development permanent secretary, Kago Ramokate told Mmegi Sport recently that the BFA general assembly could only proceed if it satisfied the COVID-19 protocols.

“The BFA has been advised to do everything possible to hold the meeting within the provisions of the law,” Ramokate said.