Injured Mogaladi accuses BNSC of neglect

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday July 1, 2011 00:00

 

There has been an impasse between Mogaladi and the BNSC after the former Maritzburg United linkman indicated his wish to get medical attention from a Cape Town sports' injuries specialist. BNSC told the player that government does not allow injured sports persons to go for medical attention abroad because they can be treated locally. After undergoing surgery in March at the Gaborone Private Hospital, Mogaladi fears he may never return to action.

'Obviously, I was going to get the best treatment in Cape Town where I had been referred to a sports' injuries specialist. But I was told the government would not pay for my treatment in South Africa because there are people who can do the same thing here. So I ended up being operated here by people who have no knowledge of sports' injuries.

I feel the surgery was not administered appropriately and I don't see myself playing again,' he said.He is convinced if the surgery had been done in South Africa, he could have played the second round of the 2010-2011 season. Mogaladi last played club football in May 2010 in the Coca Cola Cup final. At some point, he claims he tried selling his car to raise money to go for treatment in Cape Town but failed.   The BNSC insurance for national team representatives only covers medical bills and Mogaladi feels this is inadequate as football is his only source of livelihood.

'That insurance is not helping us because football is my livelihood and the fact that I am injured means I have no source of income and this insurance is only limited to medical bills.

How then do I take care of myself? So it doesn't really help me because I have to hassle for finances yet I got injured while doing national duty. Again, for one to be attended to by a doctor, it takes time because of the many procedures. Some injuries need immediate attention but with all the procedures, you could spend over a week trying to get approval from BNSC,' he said.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) technical director, Sonnyboy Sethibe refused to comment on the matter saying the BNSC is the right place to seek answers. The Achilles tendon injury reportedly cost Mogaladi a deal in Egypt. He had been scheduled to move to Egypt after the Tunisia game. But BNSC acting executive secretary, Tsholofelo Mathibe denies Mogaladi has been neglected.

'Michael has not been neglected. He has been attended to but he had a particular preference. Unfortunately we don't allow people to choose where they want to be attended to. We couldn't listen to his preferences because we have a particular service provider,' she said.

Mathibe said the BNSC has a Cuban doctor who attends to affiliates' athletes. The doctor makes an assessment and refers the person to a medical practitioner depending on the nature of the injury, she said. Regarding the insurance of players, Mathibe said the council has an arrangement. We have an insurance arrangement and there are rules and regulations as to how we operate. We didn't want to work outside the confines of the rules and regulations of insurance.'