The scandals that shook Botswana football
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday June 17, 2016 13:42
1. Ofentse Nato saga
The issue, which started off just as a normal protest over the registration of the Zebras captain, has now spiralled into a national crisis. Nato joined Rollers in February as a free agent following the expiry of his contract with Indian club, Atletico De Kolkata.
His registration was contested by Gilport Lions and later Mochudi Centre Chiefs, who both succeeded at the Botswana Football Association (BFA) national disciplinary committee (NDC).
However, the issue has brought not only confusion but also shame and embarrassment to the local football fraternity.
It has since shifted from just a normal protest to a power struggle. While his status is still an issue before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), the local structures have been overwhelmed by appeals, rulings and counter-rulings bringing more confusion to the ordinary football supporter. The latest episode has seen the Botswana National Sport Commission’s (BNSC) involvement in the issue, defying the NDC ruling for a play-off and calling off the game.
The BNSC also ordered that both Chiefs and Township Rollers players join the Zebras camp immediately before their departure to Namibia for their COSAFA Cup match.
Some have blamed the upcoming BFA elections as one of the reasons why there seem to be no end to the saga. While waiting for the CAS’ decision on Nato’s status, it remains to be seen how long the local structures would take to put the matter to bed.
The sponsor, beMOBILE has issued veil threats, and pulled out of the Premier League awards. Up to now, champions are unknown, and a day hardly passes by without a new episode in the unending comedy of errors. Football will take long to recover from this dilapidating scandal.
2. BOSA breakaway
Botswana football came to a standstill in 2004 when some community teams formed a breakaway association called Botswana Soccer Association (BOSA) who felt institutional sides were being favoured. The issue was sparked by complaints raised by community teams over the uneven playing field between them and the institutional sides.
Their argument was that teams like BDF XI, Police XI and Mogoditshane Fighters at the time had an unfair advantage in terms of resources. At the time, Fighters and BDF XI were dominating the local league. The issue arose from the fact that the institutional sides were enjoying sponsorships from public funds and expected to play in the same competitions against community sides, which had no sponsors. The issue just like the trending Nato matter not only brought confusion, but shame and embarrassment as well. It required a lot of intervention from relevant authorities for an amicable solution to be reached. One of the resolutions that brought an end to the saga was that the institutional sides should have one team playing in the league in order to try and level the playing field.
3. Zebras players strike in Morocco
In 2005, the country woke up to news that the Zebras players had downed tools in Morocco ahead of a crucial encounter with the North African side. They demanded appearance fee of P5,000 per player or they would not take part in the match.
The Botswana Football Association (BFA) had to act fast and while the association claimed there was no such money in its coffers, the football fraternity was surprised when the same association came up with a contingency plan.
Instead of finding ways to see how they could meet the players’ demands halfway, the association assembled another team immediately, which was to leave for Morocco from Botswana.
Fast forward to 2016, the issue of allowances is still a thorn in the association’s flesh. One key player, Nato has just withdrawn from the team leaving for COSAFA with the issue of unpaid wages as one of the reasons. The BNSC has on several occasions managed to intervene, but the issue keeps cropping up.
4. FIFA threatens over Constituency tournaments
Botswana faced suspension from the world football governing body, FIFA over the Constituency tournaments. The tournaments, which were run by the government without the involvement of the BFA threatened to put a stop to competitive football in the country.
FIFA issued a threat and demanded answers on why the tournaments could not be viewed as running parallel to the mainstream league and tournaments run by the association.
There was a rift between the football authorities and the government over the running of the competition as it enjoyed financial backing than recognised competitions run by the BFA. The tournaments threatened to tear registered teams apart with players leaving for the more rewarding Constituency tournaments.
The association and the government have since agreed to engage and see how best the tournaments could be run without violating FIFA statutes.
5. Expulsion of Security Systems/Police XI
Controversy reared its ugly head again in local football when two Premier League clubs, Security Systems and Police XI were expelled for failing to pay their annual, P250, subscription fee.
The two sides lost their membership and effectively kissed the Premier League goodbye after failing to pay their subscriptions with the respective regional associations.
The issue sparked public outcry with many feeling the punishment was too harsh for both sides. Systems at the time were about to make their first appearance in the elite league.
Police XI managed to acquire Wonder Sporting and returned to the Premier League the following season. Systems’ owners took over Tsholofelo Rolling Boys and have since been promoted to the elite league as well.
Then there is the issue of docking BDF XI six points when they were all but set to clinch the league title.
The army side was accused of taking a football matter to court, but many felt the punishment was unnecessarily harsh.