Kazungula, Tonota hearing today

SHINGIRAI MADONDO
Correspondent | Thursday June 6, 2013 00:00

 

This follows alleged incidents of violence during a Debswana First Division North League encounter at Kazungula Grounds in Kasane.Acting Chobe Regional Football Association chairperson Dintle Basinyi, who was the match commissioner on the day in question, has compiled a report detailing what transpired on the fateful day. He then forwarded the report to the First Division North League committee where the two clubs are affiliated.

The report was also copied to the country's football mother body, Botswana Football Association (BFA). Allegations are that both sides were involved in committing acts of violence. It is said a Tonota FC player, Tshireletso Salefoma, tore the referee's T-shirt while hurling insults at the whistleblower after being red carded. Further allegations are that one Tonota official chased after a first assistant referee in protest and threatening to beat him with a water bottle filled with ice in it.

Manyima Seyoka of Kazungula allegedly pelted stones at the second assistant referee and hit him with a brick on the head and on his back. The second assistant referee, Kagiso Othusitse, sustained some injuries in the process. A police report was immediately made resulting in the suspects being arrested. The suspects were cautioned.It is against this backdground that two sides have been summoned to appear before a First Division North League committee for a hearing. Setlalekgosi Gate, the acting First Division North League committee chairperson confirmed that the two clubs are expected to appear before his committee this evening in Francistown.'The purpose of the hearing is to afford the two clubs an opportunity to give their side of the story regarding what transpired last Saturday at Kazungula,' confirmed Gate.

Gate said the committee wants to evaluate the case and find out whether if it should be referred to the BFA Disciplinary Committee (DC) for prosecution. He said: 'The hearing is expected to give us a way forward in terms of how to deal with the matter.'  If it is a matter that they will deal with, Gate said his committee will arrange the necessary logistics because regions have been given authority to deal with some cases. BFA president, Tebogo Sebego, recently confirmed that the regions have been given the mandate to deal with cases at regional level.