BPL Board Ushers In New Committee
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Monday July 8, 2019 12:12
Police XI chairperson, Solomon Mantswe passed the baton to Jwaneng Galaxy chairperson, Njabulo Gilika for the post of vice chairperson while BDF XI’s Omphitlhetse Tlhobogang is the new treasurer. The new representatives were all unopposed. The new committee comes at a time when the league is plunged into crisis with some cases still pending ahead of the new season while there is also uncertainty over the league sponsorship.
Shah had taken over from Rapula Okaile who had quit midway through his terms to focus on his personal issues.
Shah’s appointment raised hopes because of his business acumen and although he is said to have done relatively well to stabilise the league coffers, divisions in the board are said to have stalled some of the progress made.
Sefhako will be expected to unite the board, which is said to have always been divided. His first assignment will be to restore the trust between the BPL and league sponsors, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) although the mother body, Botswana Football Association (BFA) is the custodian of all BPL contracts.
BTC is said to be unimpressed with the way things have been run and were threatening to either cut the sponsorship money or terminate the relationship altogether. Sefhako’s committee is also facing with a pending case involving Galaxy who are still adamant that the crowning of Rollers as league champions was improper.
Interestingly the case involves the teams led by the new chairperson (Miscellaneous) and his vice (Galaxy). Galaxy are of the view that Miscellaneous should have been docked points because they did not honour the initial fixture against Rollers.
They are also of the view that Rollers were supposed to gain soft points, which would have meant they were to play Galaxy to decide the league winner. Galaxy have warned that they will rest until ‘justice’ is done. The new BPL board committee will lead the BPL for the next two years.