Assembly adjournment: A gaffe not to be repeated

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday July 27, 2010 00:00

 

That failure to provide audited financial reports in time for the crucial general assembly left the game's administrators with an egg on the face is without doubt.

The last assembly was held in 2007 and the Sunday meeting presented a chance for introspection.

Delegates drawn from all Premier League clubs were ready to debate issues, but failure to provide a financial report on time threw a spanner in the works. Even minutes from the previous assembly were not available, effectively putting paid to the assembly.

BPL general manager, Phuthego Setete told Mmegi Sport that the financial report had been availed to the clubs, albeit at the last moment. The report was only made available moments before the general assembly sat, contrary to requirements that there should be sufficient time to go through the document.

A lot has been said about the clubs' laisser-faire attitude towards the fulfilment of the Bosele Declaration.Ironically, in his report which was supposed to be read at the general assembly, Setete argues that at times, lack of will, and not a shortage of finances, is the major setback in the league's bid to achieve professionalism. So what was the problem here? It seems there was no will to produce documents like minutes from a previous meeting, leave alone the more weighty issue of a timely financial report. Professionalism starts with making available perceived small documents like minutes and financial reports.

Besides time and financial resources wasted by delegates who attended the meeting, an opportunity to brainstorm on critical issues affecting the game was lost, though temporarily. Time is of the essence and the BPL had the opportunity to discuss issues ahead of a decisive Botswana Football Association (BFA) general assembly this weekend.

The BPL will approach this weekend's BFA general assembly having missed the opportunity to discuss pressing issues.

The Premier League Committee (PLC) and the BPL have made tremendous contributions to the smooth running of the league. The nation has seen a competition, which was becoming increasingly redundant, being energised after attracting healthy sponsorship.

But the leadership should bear in mind the consequences of complacency, which is probably the reason why crucial documents were not availed at the general assembly.

It is disingenuous for Setete to suggest the administrators were unaware that the unavailability of the documents will scupper proceedings.

'We didn't think that it would be a problem to present the financial report to the assembly on the same day. It is not a dent (that the assembly was postponed) although it is a disappointment,' Setete said minutes after emerging from a meeting with chairpersons of Premier League clubs.