BNSC intervening not interfering- Reikeletseng

Mqondisi Dube | Friday June 17, 2016 13:57

 

Reikeletseng was reacting to the Botswana Football Association’s (BFA) assertion that the BNSC was interfering in its affairs.

“Our decision to ask the BFA to postpone the game was not a matter of interference, but intervention.

What preceded that decision was a lengthy negotiation on the matter and when we could not reach a consensus, something had to give. We have a duty as the BNSC, to protect the national team. Our decision has nothing to do with the affairs of the BFA but more to do with the national team,” Reikeletseng told Mmegi Sport yesterday.

He said being autonomous does not give the BFA a blank cheque.

“Autonomy has to function within the parameters of the law and respect governing bodies recognised by the government. We are intervening to drive a common cause which is football and specifically, the national team,” he said.

Reikeletseng said the country comes first, adding there was nothing personal or political about their decision to stop the game at the last minute. “This decision is not personal or political, it is a decision of patriots and (based on) the principle of the game. We have to rise above petty issues, egos and anger, and focus on what is best for Botswana. As BNSC, we made that decision with a clear conscience,” he said.

The decision to stop the play-off infuriated the BFA leadership, which was left querying BNSC’s involvement in cancelling a fixture. BFA president, Tebogo Sebego went to the extent of questioning the BNSC’s boundary of powers.