The stage is set for a Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday, with one item on the agenda; to pass a motion of no confidence against the Bakwadi-led executive committee. Bakwadi has been cornered, reminiscent of a coup that led to the ouster of his predecessor, Tshepho Bathai. But with the plot thickening, the man seems unbothered by the war coming his way, as he seats down to narrate his next manoeuvre to MmegiSport this week. Bakwadi said the war within BOKA is personal and the association is being used as a scapegoat. He said the bone of contention is the BOKA audited financial statements, the absence of commissions, and appointing his brother, Ofentse Bakwadi, as national team coach. He said despite being accused of nepotism, he stands by his decision as Ofentse is qualified as a kata instructor and nobody holds his achievements in the country. “I am dealing with a lot in this office, clubs are not willing to cooperate with me. An auditable financial statement was presented to them in the last Annual General Meeting (AGM). Now they turn around and request another statement. They want receipts from us and I told them to come to the office for them. The members are also forgetting that BOKA does not have money. For every spending that we do, the funds are from the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). When you deal with people of that level of thinking it is difficult. We requested them to send names of people who can be members of different commissions, out of nine commissions, we only have five commissions. Federations have failed, and now they turn around and blame me. They should take responsibility,” Bakwadi said.
He pointed out that they completed the BOKA Hall, a project that the previous administration failed to complete and it was threatening the relationship between Botswana and Japan since it was funded by the Japanese Embassy to Botswana. As the whirlwind continues to rock BOKA, a petition was written and signed by seven federations, including Goju-Kai and Karate No-Michi, which are deemed as non-members. Later on, three federations pulled out of the petition, leaving only two, Kofukan and Shito-Ryu Shukokai. The Bakwadi-led committee instructed the two federations to show cause why they could not be suspended for contravening the BOKA constitution, but the two federations did not back down as they pushed back. Kofukan and Shito-Ryu Shukokai were slapped with suspensions for collaborating with non-BOKA members in an attempt to undermine the leadership and structure of the association. Bakwadi explained that Karate No-Michi was expelled from BOKA for failing to account for funds spent during the Lobatse Sport Festival whilst Goju-Kai did not pay affiliation fees. “I was fair to the two federations when I gave them a chance to explain themselves as to why they connived with non-BOKA members. The SGM that they are planning for Saturday is an illegal gathering, and any federation that will be part of that meeting faces suspension or even expulsion from BOKA. Our constitution clearly states that an SGM can only be convened with the support of at least two-thirds of the bona fide membership. The petition submitted to call for this meeting was initially signed by five members. However, three signatories have since officially distanced themselves from the petition through formal correspondence,” he said.
Bakwadi said he was aware that the decision to remove him from office was only meant to put back the previous regime. He said Bathai's committee left BOKA riddled with debts, where at one point Bakwadi said he was even threatened with a warrant of arrest by a deputy sheriff. He said despite the challenge, he managed to clear the debts. Bakwadi said it is unfortunate that they are now spending a lot of money on legal costs fighting the previous regime at the High Court. “If the majority of the federations want me out, I will go. Look, I have even told the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) that I can leave tomorrow because this is a voluntary position and I do not benefit anything. You must also realise that people who are complaining never bothered to write to my committee to express their displeasure. But I will crack the whip,” Bakwadi said. He said this weekend BOKA is conducting a national team selection, and it will go ahead as planned.
Meanwhile, Goju-Kai chief instructor, Christopher Ponatshego, said it was untrue that he had expelled himself from BOKA. Ponatshego revealed that he received a letter from BOKA that he was expelled from BOKA due to non-payment of affiliation fees. “I gave them proof that I had paid and they kept quiet. An AGM followed where the members agreed that Goju-Kai and Karate No Michi had paid and should be reinstated into BOKA and they kept quiet up to now. How does one expel oneself? The letter was written by Bakwadi, and in my response, I informed him that I had paid for the next three years. On top of that, BOKA owes me,” he said.
