BSA, umpires' row continue

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Wednesday February 3, 2010 00:00

 

The softball League Committee chairperson, Harambe Ntsowe has said the BSA informed them to find alternative match officials as a result of the impasse, which has been dragging on for sometime. Although Ntsowe could not be drawn into disclosing the reasons for the stand-off, it is understood that the choice of Jayson Majase as chief umpire irked other officials, who vowed to stop officiating.

He said the umpires have made it clear that they will not resume officiating until their grievances are addressed. He stated they have been  forced to use softball players to officiate because of the stand-off. He explained that they use players who have undergone BSA officiating courses but where this is not possible, they use interested individuals. 'But we really try to use people who are experienced in softball,' Ntsowe said. He discouraged the use of players as umpires saying they might be biased in their decisions.

BSA spokesperson, Kabelo Kwape maintained that there is no crisis, instead preferring to play down the issue. He said the umpires have been rested to give upcoming officials a chance to officiate. Kwape said initially, qualified officials were meant to officiate games in the south as most of them resided in Gaborone and were too few to be spread to the north.

'We felt that it was unfair to teams in the north so we felt we should rest them for a while,' Kwape explained. He said BSA umpires will only be used to officiate in tournaments involving both north and south teams.

He said they are not aware that umpires are not happy about Majase, as they never lodged a complaint with the association. 'This is the first time I have heard that,' Kwape said. He said they are aware that there was bad blood between Majase and the association at some point.

However, the chief umpire is chosen based on his or her credentials. 'May be they wanted somebody whom they have a personal relationship with,' Kwape suggested.