Makgalemele seeks P2m for match-fixing allegations

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday April 8, 2011 00:00

 

Makgalemele, who is the former Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, would also have come face to face with his former employee and Under-23 coach Major David Bright fighting in Rakgare's corner.

The former BFA strongman is suing the radio station and the presenter for defamation following a broadcast in 2008, alleging that the MP was bribed in China where he had gone with the Under-23 football team for a tournament. The team lost only one game and won the tournament contested by hosts, China, Japan and South Korea.

In his testimony Rakgare told court that he was informed by Bright that while in China, Makgalemele had approached him with the information that there was a Japanese who wanted them (Botswana team) to lose their matches. Rakgare said Bright told him that Makgalemele said if the coaching team agreed, he had no problem in taking the money.

However, Rakgare said Bright refused Makgalemele's advances and told him that 'they were there to play for pride and wanted to represent the country well'.

Rakgare further said upon hearing that information, he made an effort to contact BFA and subsequently Makgalemele. 'I made an effort to contact Makgalemele for quite sometime but he would not honour the invitations,' Rakgare said. Rakgare went ahead and broadcast the show and after some time the station received a letter of complaint from Makgalemele's lawyers.

Court heard that the station management studied the letter and responded by inviting Makgalemele to air his side of the story live on air during the morning show.

Makgalemele is said to have also refused the invitation by the station to give his side of the story. Rakgare told court that he would have loved to be on the show if Makgalemele had accepted the invitation.

On the other hand, Makgalemele's team have dismissed Rakgare's testimony. They said Rakgare never carried out any investigations to verify his facts and as such the stories that he and his witness were telling the court were just afterthoughts.

Rakgare had told court that he would only call one witness, this being Bright, who is currently employed by South African soccer side Bay United. Bright is expected to testify today.

John Carr-Hartley represents Yarona FM and Rakgare while Dineo Makati-Mpho represents Makgalemele.