BFA set to build multi-million pula academy
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday June 1, 2018 13:00
Speaking at the recent Debswana First Division North elective assembly held in Palapye, Letshwiti said preparations are at an advanced stage.
He said the government processes are still holding the association back, but added that he is confident that by August this year they would have been completed and the groundbreaking of the project would resume. When fully operational the academy is expected to house about 100 best football players. He said the world-standard academy would employ around 80 to 100 people.
Through the academy, he said, Botswana would be able to export talent to big football leagues around the world. “This is going to be the biggest development in the history of Botswana football and this is my legacy to our football. If this project does not work, nothing will ever transform our football,” Letshwiti said.
He also revealed that they are making plans to reinforce the National First Division leagues to accommodate development structures. Although he could not reveal the names, he said they are in negotiations with another sponsor to support Debswana’s First Division sponsorship. Over and above, he said they are negotiating with broadcasting partners for the First Division league.
“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes. We are addressing financial needs for the First Division and we would mandate all the First Division clubs to adopt Under-17 sides as we embark on promoting developments in the region,” he added.
Letshwiti called on the national league clubs to begin the journey of the club-licensing programme. He said the agenda would improve the well being of the clubs and the association.
He said this after the Debswana First Division North chairperson, Mpezeni Sambandawe complained that the national league is not prioritised. Sambandawe said the clubs in the First Division were financially challenged and that has contributed to the collapse of the development structures. The First Division chairperson said he acknowledges the “excellent initiatives” president Letshwiti has set forward and believes they could transform the local game.
He said, however, some officials at the mother-body are hell bent on sabotaging the processes.
“The president has set excellent initiatives that can lead us somewhere, but it seems there is resistance to change at the mother-body and some of our officials would rather sabotage the process,” he said.
“Our clubs are in deep financial problems and all the ills that these undesirable elements bring to our football only add up to the constraints of our clubs hence our clubs suffer and as a result development structures collapse because they simply can’t afford to sustain them.”
Meanwhile, Sambandawe was re-elected the chairperson beating his competitor Moraole Sikwane by 21 to three votes. His secretary Rapula Gaotlhobogwe and treasurer Mompati Ketlogetswe also retained their positions.
Mengistu Chigala, who served as an additional member in the previous committee, was elected the new vice chairperson. Chakalisa Dube, Annah Charles and Onalenna Dithakanyane were elected additional members.