Police XI, Systems thrown a lifeline

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Thursday August 23, 2012 00:00

 

Both Police XI and Security Systems and four others, Wildlife FC, Junior Milan, Steady Boys and Botswana Vaccine Institute had failed to pay the annual subscription fees with their regional association, which meant they were booted out.Despite the Gaborone region's decision, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) executive committee has made no immediate commitments that the two Premier League clubs would return.

Junior Milan and Steady Boys are both playing in Division Four, while Botswana Vaccine Institute and Wildlife are campaigning in Divisions One and Two respectively. However, following a meeting by the committee of the regional association on Tuesday, the six clubs will now return to their respective leagues. Chairperson of the region, Albert Gaopelo revealed to Mmegi Sport yesterday that they have taken a decision to grant the six clubs' membership.

He said they exercised article 11.3.3 of the BFA Constitution, which gives them powers to grant membership to clubs and/or to suspend or revoke such membership for good cause shown. He explained that they also used article 11.3.5, which gives the regional football associations powers to make decisions concerning the affairs and arrangements within the respective regional football associations. Gaopelo pointed out that the reasons given by the clubs were valid hence their decision to reverse the earlier action. Security Systems had stated that they had asked the regional football association to deduct the money from the amount owed to the team by the First Division South. He said it was a sad situation because terminating the membership of the clubs was like retrenching the workers, who in this case are the players.

He stated that the concerned clubs also have development structures and would have been a blow for football in the country. Gaopelo and his committee have already sent a letter to the Premier League informing them about the latest development. They have also informed BFA executive committee about the decision they have taken regarding the six clubs. Kgame confirmed the NEC has received the letter from the region, but could not say what the next step would be.

Gaopelo said even the decision to terminate the six clubs was taken by the regional association and only informed NEC contrary to some people's belief that the decision was taken by NEC. 'We have therefore decided to reverse our earlier decision and once again informed NEC,' Gaopelo told Mmegi Sport yesterday. Both Police XI and Security Systems will now pay P11, 000 each while the other four clubs will pay P5, 500 each. The amount is payable within 14 days. The decision will be a blow to both Notwane and Mahalapye side, BR Highlanders who were set to benefit from Police XI and Security Systems' demise.Notwane were to return to the elite league as the best relegated team, while BR Highlanders were to grab the remaining spot after losing to Prisons XI in the Promotional Play-offs. Security Systems were already contemplating legal action against the association, while Police XI had written an apology and requested for a lenient punishment.