BFA fulfils grants promise
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday February 1, 2017 17:03
The association had not paid referees their allowances for the first round of the Debswana First Division league. Clubs on the other hand had only received 50% of their grants.
BFA public relations officer, Tumo Mpatane told Mmegi Sport yesterday that at the moment they have deposited the grants and referees allowances for the First Division North. He said they are in the process of releasing the funds for the First Division South.
“The committees will be responsible for paying referees and clubs. We have released the funds. By next week everyone should be settled in terms of their department or what is owed to them,” Mpatane said.
First Division North chairperson, Mpenzeni Sambandawe confirmed to Mmegi Sport that they have received the funds from BFA. “The arrangement that the association wanted to adopt was not good. We were used to paying our referees every month not after we had finished the league. We met with the BFA executive committee last week and we came to a conclusion that we should reverse the decision,” he said.
Sambandawe said the new system of paying referees straight into their accounts from the BFA was reversed. He said the initial agreement with the sponsor, Debswana, was that the money should be given to the two First Division committees. He said it should be the responsibility of First Division League to manage its affairs.
Meanwhile, Sambandawe said he has been brought back into the Sponsorship Committee after being removed without reasons. He said the committee which comprises First Division South chairperson, a Debswana and BFA representative is yet to meet. He said the committee is expected to sort out all issues regarding sponsorship.