Makhwengwe explains Pirates' jersey

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Wednesday February 17, 2010 00:00

 

He said a Botswana Television (Btv) producer gave him the jersey to wear during the televised debate.  Some sports fans argued that it was improper for Makhwengwe, as a BFA official to wear the Pirates' jersey.  

He explained that when there are televised matches whether international or local, Btv gets analysts to present views from opposing sides. He said Btv offered him and his co-analyst a GU and Pirates' jersey. He chose the Pirates t-shirt because it was his size. 'It could be the other way round. But I had to put on the Pirates jersey because it fitted me well,' Makhwengwe explained. Though he maintained that there was nothing wrong with what he did, he said he would have liked to put on the GU shirt. 'It is not like I was comfortable in the jersey too, but I had to do it for the purpose of the programme,' he added. He did not understand why people make noise about what he called a 'small' issue. 'Where in the world is it not allowed?' he asked.

He said football is about being one big family. 'I am a BFA official and that makes me a FIFA person, and it means all the football teams in the world are mine,' Makhwengwe said.

'We have many things that we need to think about to develop sports and not wasting time blowing small matters out of proportion,' charged Makhwengwe. He said that previously, some Libyans wore Botswana jerseys when their country played the Zebras.

However, he apologised to Batswana for the confusion that he might have caused. 'I know Batswana respect me, and I will not do anything deliberately to disappoint them. If they do not want me to do it, I will never do it again,' he promised.

BFA acting chief executive officer, Susan Monametsi refused to say whether what Makhwengwe did was right. 'It depends on how you look at it. If you want it to be wrong then it is wrong.' Monametsi added that what Makhwengwe did was to promote harmony. 'It could be taken as a welcoming gesture for the visiting team,' she said. She said today's football is about being a family, not fighting opponents.  Btv had not responded to questions from Mmegi Sport at the time of going to press.