03 Jul 2014

Football delegates from all regions will converge at Gaborone International Convention Centre on July 26 to elect Botswana Football Association (BFA) leadership.

Only posts of the vice president-administration, vice president-finance, marketing and research and two additional members would be competed for.

The most interesting battle would be for vice president-administration position, which would pit first division chairperson, Tariq Babitseng, former Tafic chairperson, Leviet Ntwaagae and former Notwane chairperson, Segolame Ramotlhwa.

Both candidates have worked tirelessly for the development of football and it would be testing for the delegates to vote for the right person.

Meanwhile, FIFA development officer who has served in different leadership capacity both in Botswana and internationally said leadership positions were the most important in football. 

Ashford Mamelodi said the need to have the right people with the requisite credentials was important particularly at the helm of an association as such people were charged with driving all components of the game forward. 

Although Mamelodi did not want to be drawn in deciding as to who was the best candidate for the position saying they should vote someone who, among other things, should be a mature individual with significant knowledge and experience in leading the game including at club level in senior positions.

The individual, he said, must be able to demonstrate an unquestionable integrity and must be able to easily fit into the position of BFA president should circumstances dictate such ascension.

According to the former COSAFA secretary general the candidate must have a track record of honesty and have a passion for football and must be able to demonstrate that he would be able to speak for football nationally without being bias.

He said the individual must associate with modern trends of football management including embracing planning in strategy, finance, marketing, communication and development amongst others and must be an advocate for relevant policies to assist with the management component of the game.

Importantly, he said those aspiring candidate must also be committed to the game and practice good governance and management principles. Further, he said he must be brave and insist on putting football first in his leadership.

“In a nutshell the candidate must not be a puppet but rather a bastion for principle, however I will not make reference to the names you provided but rather speak in general terms. After all the decision on who ascends to the positions at the BFA general assembly is up to the association membership,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Rapula Okaile and Marslow Motlogelwa would vie for the vice president-finance, marketing and research while Moruakgomo Otukiie, Suzie Montsho, Olaotse Mmualebe, Patrick Zibochwa and Senki Sesinyi would compete for two additional members’ slots. ENDS