Boardroom wrangles have become sport's new regular irritants. The nation is still drenched in euphoria following the overwhelming success of Amantle Montsho on the track, the Zebras' first ever qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations finals and the netball team's exploits at the World Netball Championships. However, boardroom issues are threatening to overrun such success.
Sport has been on the ascendancy particular in the last 24 months, with boxer Oteng Oteng also adding to the sparkle with a medal at the All Africa Games.
There are bags of promises from young and upcoming athletes such as Leungo Matlhaku, but a stumbling block lies ahead. The barrier is not on the field but is stuck in the boardroom.
The Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) finds itself battling boardroom issues, which threaten its smooth operation. The Council should be an embodiment of professionalism and a model of how affairs are handled, with the effect cascading to affiliates. The situation obtaining at BNSC has forced affiliates to take a back seat and watch a battle of egos, which threatens to reverse gains made over the years.
Recent reports emanating from the BNSC paint a picture of a Council struggling for fluency. Within the board, there are divergent views refusing to converge, BNSC chairperson at times finds himself isolated, while the secretariat has been left bamboozled by the unfolding situation.
Events point to a volatile situation with morale among staff said to be at its lowest ebb, evidenced by the exodus of key personnel. The finance manager left, the human resources manager is suspended, Kitso Kemoeng, the former executive secretary, exited amid reports of a bitter war of attrition with the board.
BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng now faces a tough task of restoring normalcy at a body that had enjoyed relative calm, although intermittent reports point to a sports body that has always battled internal politics.
While Kemoeng has left, the focus shifts to the appointment of his successor, amid growing concerns that it might be difficult to find the right candidate.
In Reikeletseng's own admission, a fresh person who will bring a new dimension to the BNSC is needed. However, the arrival of the new chief executive officer might be overshadowed by a situation that has not necessarily spiraled out of control, but is equally unsettling.
Hailed as an astute administrator, Reikeletseng faces, among other things, the tough task of bringing stability to BNSC and propel it towards a health balance sheet.
Across the gravel road at the National Stadium, worried faces abound in Lekidi Centre.
That Botswana Football Association (BFA) president David Fani has much on his plate is not in doubt. National coach, Stanley Tshosane's negotiations have dragged on, a decision on the technical sponsor is still pending, while the issue of national team players' welfare simply refuses to die. Now the BFA is broke with reports that critical activities might be put on ice. BFA has seen successive CEOs depart, while late last year, then acting CEO, Sonnyboy Sethibe and finance manager, Susan Monametsi were hauled over the coals for alleged digressions.
Fani is also aware of a perennial faction that is eager to topple him and legal advisor, Tebogo Sebego has already declared his interest in the BFA top post.
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) had to seek the intervention of the BNSC mid last year as Glody Dube cooked up a storm after the Athletics Junior Championships in May.
Paralympics body, PASSOBO was engulfed in controversy resulting in unsavoury exchanges between some members and Tendani Magazine, the secretary general.
Recently, the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) suspended Ryuhshin-Kan chief instructor, Andrew Dobolo amid reports of financial maladministration at the style.
However, amid the upheavals there has been refreshing calm elsewhere with boxing leading the way, which probably reflects light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
