GU winner as teams lose points for January 'revolt'
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 540 Views |
GU has emerged as the biggest winner from the January revolt
As a result of leadership wrangles within the BFL, clubs announced a boycott of the fixtures in January. Only Security Systems, VTM, and Gaborone United turning up for Week 13 fixtures. In Week 14, only GU was present at the venue, while all other 15 teams absconded. In a 'one man judge' ruling delivered yesterday, Charles McErick, the BFL chief prosecutor said all teams that failed to honour fixtures will forfeit points from the matches while those that were present stand to gain.
"All the teams that attended the football matches on Week 13 and 14 shall be awarded a 'walkover' that is a 2-0 victory (three points) for every game they attended where was a no-show by the opposition team," McErick said in the six-page judgment. "The BFL secretariat is hereby immediately ordered to amend the league log to reflect this ruling." The ruling means GU move second behind Jwaneng Galaxy as they gain six points. This means all teams have now played 26 games with four remaining, although clubs are expected to challenge the ruling.
When claims of such gravity are made, especially by a sitting Assistant Minister they cannot be brushed aside, delayed, or treated as routine political noise. Even the Ombudsman has confirmed receipt of a report from a political party and a review of these complaints is now underway. That is a necessary first step. But it is only the beginning. The seriousness of the allegations demands urgency, transparency and clarity. The public is entitled to...