Gunners, Babitseng face BFA's wrath
Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 23, 2019 12:20
BFA suspended Babitseng from all football activities and was recently ejected from the association’s general assembly, following a 2014 trip with the Zebras, which resulted in misappropriation of funds.
A BFA employee lost his job after allowing Babitseng to attend the recent BFA general assembly. However, the BFA said Babitseng was immediately removed from the meeting.
But Babitseng maintains he attended the meeting without any hindrance.
Babitseng’s suspension came after he was accused of misappropriating funds amounting to $7,257.93 (approximately P73, 000) following the Zebras’ trip to Guinea Bissau in 2014. Babitseng was the head of delegation.
BFA records show that Babitseng was dismissed after failing to account for the money.
During its meeting of July 3, 2015, the BFA National Executive Committee voted to resolve the Babitseng issue.
Five voted for his dismissal, while four wanted him to be suspended. The meeting therefore resolved to dismiss Babitseng, who was vice president-administration then.
“It was agreed that, the vice president-administration, would be dismissed. The committee agreed to write to Mr Babitseng giving reasons for the dismissal,” read the minutes of the NEC meeting.
The August 2015 general assembly ratified the decision.
But Gunners and Babitseng have refused to recognise the suspension, with the administrator maintaining the BFA only wrote to the club, and he has never received any communication.
“I have officially not been notified myself. I hear it (the suspension) from the club and they have responded as they are dealing with them. On my side, I have not received any correspondence,” Babitseng told Mmegi Sport yesterday.
He reportedly sought BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti’s intervention in the matter, arguing he had paid the missing funds.
But a source at BFA said the money was still outstanding, which explains why Babitseng remains suspended. He is still at the helm of the popular Lobatse side. The mother body argues, both the club and Babitseng are, therefore in contempt.
BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo said the matter has been referred to the Disciplinary Committee for action.
“He (Babitseng) remains suspended from all BFA activities and the matter has been handed over to the Disciplinary Committee, inclusive of Extension Gunners who entertain his chairmanship,” said Mfolo.
He confirmed an employee faced disciplinary action after accrediting Babitseng to attend the recent BFA general assembly.
“Disciplinary action was taken, but I am constrained to discuss the issue because it hinges on his confidentiality; employer, employee,” said Mfolo.