Sebetela wins top BFA post

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Monday August 2, 2010 00:00

 

The former Cabinet Minister scooped 71 votes to easily beat ex-Premier League Committee (PLC) Chairperson, Booker Bannister who got 29 votes at the BFA general assembly on Saturday.  However, Sebetela a former Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) chairman was not there to accept his new position after the peaceful elections.

He is credited with, among other things, for bringing the Under-17 African Youth Championships to Botswana in 1997.  Sebetela got an easy ride to the BFA vice-presidency after the third aspirant and former holder of the post, Segolame Ramotlhwa failed to contest because his nomination did not meet the requirements.

As per article 9.6.1 of the BFA constitution, candidates for positions in the National Executive Committee shall be proposed by one member and be supported by four other members. In Ramotlhwa's case, he was nominated by one member and got support from two members only. He left earlier before the elections started.  Ramotlhwa and a few aspirants for different positions had made a written request asking the general assembly to give them a waiver to contest.

The assembly was divided on the issue and there was a vote to decide the issue.  Only 31 delegates favoured the request while 68 voted against.

The position fell vacant after Ramotlhwa quit citing factionalism in the BFA.  Olson Mantle has been acting in the position.

Other positions that were contested on Saturday were vice-president (finance, marketing and research) where Gabriel Ngele garnered 48 votes to beat Elijah Katse who got 44 votes and Mmolotsi Tatedi with 10.

Tshepo Mphoeng and Gaolatlhe Kelesitse are the new additional members. The two made the grade unopposed as five other contenders were disqualified because they did not satisfy the nomination requirements.

When welcoming the new committee members, BFA president David Fani said they are a team that believes in unity.

He expressed hope that they will work well together.  Fani promised the general assembly that the committee will work on all the issues that they have raised.