Francistown Football officials quit

CHAKALISA DUBE
Staff Writer | Monday May 20, 2013 00:00

 

Francistown Regional Football Association (FRAFA) chairperson, Jonas Naomi Ikgopoleng, his deputy, Lenyeletse Tamocha, secretary, Baboloki Bajiti, treasurer, Fanyana Fish and additional member, Obvious Moyo resigned after last Thursday's DC ruling that Eagles FC will contest the First Division play-offs in Serowe instead of Blue Birds of Tonota.

On Saturday, Ikgopoleng and his committee met Francistown Division One and Two officials at the Institute of Health Sciences (HIS) to inform them about their resignation. Insiders say the committee did not reveal reasons for their resignation.

 'Yes we have resigned. We have given the BFA leadership until Friday to come and collect the material we used to run football matters in the region. We are also going to explain reasons for our resignation to them when we hand the materials, before we can go public,' Ikgopoeleng said yesterday.

It is likely that the resignations are inspired by the dispute over Birds and Eagles rivalry for the Division Two title and quest for promotion to the First Division in the play-off.

More than a week ago, FRAFA ruled that Eagles could not take part in the play-offs and it was found that the team's Zimbabwean tactician, Elliot Mavhondo did not have a work and residence permit.

Eagles had qualified for the play-off spot in a decider against Birds in Tonota on Ascension Day. The match ended in a draw that gave Eagles 45 points to Birds' 44. But Birds were later awarded the match after they protested against Mavhondo.

The soft points awarded to Birds meant that a second decider had to be played but Eagles players walked out of the pitch after 12 minutes of the replay. This prompted FRAFA to declare Birds Division One champions and contestants in the play-off for promotion. Eagles approached the BFA arguing that Mavhondo is a volunteer and is not contracted to the club.

The FRAFA felt that because Mavhondo is a foreigner, he ought to have a work and residential permit to coach Eagles even if he is a volunteer.  The FRAFA decision was overturned by the DC, which allowed Eagles to take part in the play-offs over the weekend. BFA president, Tebogo Sebego confirmed yesterday that the FRAFA committee has resigned, but would not comment further saying that he was yet to be fully briefed on the matter.