Changes that had long been whispered about in the corridors of Lekidi Centre finally came to the surface before sports journalists, who attended the BFA’s media briefing at Lekidi Centre, on Wednesday.What had been framed as a routine briefing was, in reality, the public unveiling of a change that had already been set in motion.BFA president, Babitseng moved to remove Kago Mosinyi from his position as acting CEO, replacing him with Rathari in what amounts to a quiet reshuffle, but one laden with significance. It is understood that Babitseng had been looking for a more assertive approach from the association’s chief executive, and Rathari, an accountant by profession who serves as a portfolio manager at FinCraft Investment, was viewed as the ideal candidate to drive the association’s mandate forward.“I wish to take this opportunity to address recent changes and the strategic realignment within the secretariat.“Following a national executive committee meeting on July 27, 2026, after getting the formal report from our acting general secretary, Mr Kago Mosinyi, the committee moved swiftly to agree to appoint temporarily Rre BathusI Rathari as the acting secretary-general of the association with immediate effect. He will be there temporarily; Kago Mosinyi will be going back to his position as COO. I would like to emphasise that this is a short-term strategic arrangement whilst we look for a substantive general secretary,” Babitseng said.He added that there was a feeling within the executive committee that Mosinyi was overwhelmed and needed assistance with issues of the secretariat. Babitseng said Rathari is tasked with leading BFA’s strategic framework, including BFA Impact and FIFA programmes.With the reshuffle, Mosinyi has slipped out of the limelight back to his position as chief operations officer, where there is little public scrutiny.However, perhaps Mosinyi has been left to grapple with questions of his own on whether he failed the CEO audition. Babitseng may have wanted more from Mosinyi, who had occupied the acting CEO position since Mfolo Mfolo’s departure in February. Rathari has stepped into a position often regarded as a poisoned chalice, albeit on a temporary basis. Yet he knows this is an audition he can ill afford to fail if he harbours ambitions of securing the position on a permanent basis. The ever-watchful football fraternity will be keeping a close eye on proceedings as Rathari takes centre stage. Babitseng and his committee’s failure to decisively appoint a permanent replacement seven months after Mfolo’s departure did not escape the journalists’ attention, with questions raised over the prolonged vacancy. The BFA president responded by indicating that the CEO position, along with several other posts, had been advertised. The acting CEO switch was not the only one which caught the eye, as technical director Kaelo has been redeployed to the role of head of coaching and research. Babitseng said this was Kaelo’s strongest area, which will benefit the association.The technical director’s position has fallen vacant, and Babitseng said the hunt for a new technical director will begin shortly.“We want to identify the right individual with appropriate qualifications, experience and vision and technical direction for Botswana football,” he added. “This is not to say Mr Kaelo does not have those qualities, but is to align the proper personnel with the strongest qualities to ensure the progress of football. These changes are part of the broader objectives to ensure that we have the right people in the right positions with clearly defined responsibilities and the capacity to deliver on strategic objectives of the association.”As the BFA rolls towards the elective AGM in two years, there could be further twists within both the secretariat and the board, with decisive realignments.
