Rugby player dies from head injuries
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday April 27, 2016 11:32
Botswana Rugby Union secretary general, Ernest Mantsi said Mogatusi sustained head injuries during a game between UB Rhinos and Riders on April 16. He said the player was admitted at Princess Marina hospital and was later referred to Bokamoso Private Hospital where he passed away.
Meanwhile, the BRU has been dragged to the Industrial Court by its former employee, Alecs Basitang for unfair dismissal. The case will be heard on August 30.
Basitang was hired by BRU as development technical officer after the resignation of Zilwele Khumalo in 2014. He told Mmegi Sport in an interview from his Maseru, Lesotho base this week that he was dismissed by the union after showing interest in contesting BRU elections as secretary general.
“Some clubs nominated me for the position and that did no go well with the executive committee led by former BRU president, Bob Lekan. This is despite the fact that my contract was silent on that aspect.
The BRU constitution also did not stop me from contesting,” he said.
He said the committee had asked him to choose between his job and contesting for elections and he chose to stand for elections. He said the leadership relieved him of his duties before the elections were held.
Basitang said after he was fired, BRU failed to pay him for leave days and the remaining eight months of his contract. He said the matter was taken to the Department of Labour for mediation, but he felt the mediator was biased and supported the union hence his decision to take the matter forward.
Basitang accused the committee of sidelining ‘intelligent’ individuals. “That brought divisions within the union because people like us ended up being victimised,” he said.
Basitang said he was once accused of interfering in the national team during an international tournament but all he was doing was to assist after being requested to do so by the technical team.
He said the rugby leadership went to the extent of tarnishing his name at the Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FLR) when they learnt that he had found a job there.
For his part, Lekan said he was not at liberty to comment on the matter because it was before the court.
Secretary general, Mantsi said they were elected into office after Basitang had left and there was nothing he could say regarding the case.