30 May 2016

The First Division South (FDS) League has elected Sam Keitireng as its chairperson for another two year-term. Keitireng has held the FDS chairmanship for the past two years after replacing Tariq Babitseng in August 2014.

He received 13 votes to beat former Premier League administrative secretary, Setete Phuthego to the post during the league’s annual general meeting held at the Gaborone City Council Hall on May 29. Phuthego was voted by 10 delegates.

Accepting his new mandate, Keitireng urged clubs to work closely with his committee to develop the second-tier league. “The river downstream is actually waiting for the river upstream to feed it with water. Us sitting here do not immediately mean that we are clever than other people. You have given us a mandate to run football with your input,” he said.

Ishmael Modise and Sydney Magagane were respectively elected vice-chairperson and secretary general unopposed. Thebeetsile Mokgwa also retained the post of treasurer unopposed.
Mogomotsi Maphu who got 17 votes, Molefi Molefe 15 votes and Raymond Makwatse 13 votes were elected additional members, beating two other candidates Naledi Mompati and Tshiamo Mareko who received 12 votes each.

Giving a keynote address during the annual meeting, Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Tebogo Sebego advised FDS clubs to familiarise themselves with requirements of the club licensing system. Sebego explained that the club licensing system would commence at Premier League level from the 2016/17 season, and the first division leagues would follow next.

“It is important for the league to familiarise itself with the club licensing system. Possibly, it will be cascaded down to the first division in the next three years,” Sebego said.

He stated that the club licensing system among other things required elite league teams to operate from permanent offices, have appropriate communication systems, have own or leased grounds and engage qualified medical doctors.

Briefing delegates, secretary general Magagane said though the proposed top-eight competition for FDS teams failed to take off during the 2015/16 season due to lack of funding the league had not abandoned the idea. “We are working on finding a sponsor for the tournament. We are negotiating with one company and we hope that the negotiations will go well,” Magagane said.

He also said the FDS was thinking about introducing the end of the season awards after completion of the 2016/17 season in an effort to develop the brand of the league.
Delegates asked the league leadership to negotiate for some first division matches to be broadcast live on television and radio, saying live broadcasts would make the league more attractive to sponsors. Ends