Letshwiti�s approach will be key

Dennis Keagile | Friday August 19, 2016 15:00

By then he decried the lack of statutes that promote private ownership of clubs as opposed to clubs being run as societies. And, not long ago I asked him about the troubles facing community run (society) clubs, especially when it comes to transition from a society setup to private ownership and his answer was that there is lack of statutory guidance from the association and as such it is a trial and error exercise.

Well, over the weekend he ascended to the BFA presidential seat after defeating Tebogo Sebego by four votes as he garnered 32 votes to Sebego’s 28 after a re-run.  I, therefore expect not to have any excuses anymore because naturally he is a critic and an achiever. Congratulations are in order.

But to Letshwiti and his new team I would like to remind them of what former South African president Nelson Mandela once said, that “People respond in accordance to how you relate to them. If you approach them on the basis of violence, that’s how they will react.  But if you say, we want peace, we want stability, we can do a lot of things that will contribute towards the progress of our society, they will respond positively”.

I therefore say it is time to build bridges and unite football followers for the greater benefit of the sport and the nation. For too long football has suffered from factional battles that have compromised its image and integrity.

As the national sport and a great potential to create employment and wealth for the vast majority of ordinary people, I say the time is now to correct all the wrongs of the past.

I do not want to open healing wounds or another debate, but Sebego, after so much promise coupled with a landslide victory against former president, David Fani, disappointed many.

To Segolame Ramotlhwa I say you are a journey man of Botswana football. You have held this position before and therefore let us see your wisdom, experience and expertise. I am told you were the brain behind the commercialisation of Botswana football, which Sebego spoke so fondly about.

As for Pelotshweu Marshlow Motlogelwa it is time to focus your energy on improving the financial structures of the association.  I know that you might be having reservations about the chief executive officer, Kagiso Kitso Kemoeng, but it is time to kiss and make up. Believe you me, KK has always had a personal ambition to be at the helm of football, the sport he so much loves and I think you know better.

Equally not long ago, Masego Nchingane once highlighted or mentioned that one day he would like to be the president of the association.  Therefore with so much passion and integrity from Eatametse Olopeng and Suzie Montsho this committee should be able to tick all the boxes.

Unity, unity and unity should be the buzz word of the new executive because I know for a fact that people in the regions do not want anything else but progress for they are sacrificing a lot, both in terms of time and personal resources.

In fact, it looks like the outcome of the elections has created a feel-good factor among many, if not all.  With Senki Sesinyi at the helm, women’s football has reason to believe that this time it will get the due recognition and support it deserves. 

For the Premier League it is all hallelujah, not that it will get autonomy overnight, but when you know that your boss will give you a listening ear you tend to be at ease and not put on your boxing gloves. 

The league ought to be professional enough and we do not want to see the shenanigans that have dogged it for the past two seasons.  Professionalism starts with the attitude of people and not the abundance of money.

Respect for the fans, who are the main sponsors of the game, is key.  All corporate houses associate themselves with the sport because of the benefits that accrue from the fans in many different facets.  Completing the jig-saw of the executive is members of the fourth estate, the media.  This is an ex-officio member of the committee, which if not handled with care can destroy the association or the committee.  There is therefore need for a media strategy, how the association will handle contentious issues and other members of the football fraternity.

Football is a sport where gossip and outright lies rule supreme and how these are handled can define the relationship between the executive and the media.

But all in all I wish God blesses the new executive so that it can deliver on its mandate.

 

Olympics

The 2016 summer Olympic Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have given Botswana sport, especially the Olympic committee some form of an assignment. We can try and look the other way, but the team has disappointed big time and the question is: Where did we go wrong?  Serious introspection by all is needed, from the athletes themselves, to the technical team, management and the government.  Something did not go right somewhere.  The early exit of Nijel Amos from the 800-metre race was perhaps the highlight of the substandard performance.  More often than not we tend to think at 18 or 20 our guys are young, but comparatively speaking, the spirit of competitiveness and achievement is built at an early age. 

There is need for serious introspection and I would be glad if the failures can be shared with the nation so that we can all learn and improve.  Preparations for the next Olympics and World Championships should start now and how I wish Choppies can come to the party.  We need the millions poured into training so that we can achieve gold.