30 Jan 2018

Former Zebras coach, Peter Butler has made allegations that business mogul, Nicholas Zakhem sponsored Maclean Letshwiti’s campaign to win Botswana Football Association (BFA) presidency.

Letshwiti was elected BFA president in 2016 winning 32-28 against Tebogo Sebego in a hotly contested election.

His victory did not come easy as he had to win the elections in the second round after a re-run because both candidates failed to accumulate 70 per cent of the total votes.

In the first round, Letshwiti garnered 28 votes, Sebego 24 while Solomon Mantswe was voted by only six people.

In his tweet, Butler claimed that Letshwiti would not have been voted had Zakhem not helped him financially.

Butler who is undoubtedly following Botswana football was angered by the alleged appointment of Serbian Dragojlo Stanojlovic as Under-20 coach.

“There are many Batswana I would have given that position to - you telling me a Motswana not capable of doing that job?

That is unacceptable- Letswithi it’s time for you to leave you don’t know what you are doing you are destroying the hopes of the Nation,” he said on Twitter.

He continued to say “Rre Sebego never interfered in my work nice quiet guy who we shared the same vision, let’s build a new era with youth; we did not always agree and had our moments, but Sebego was streets better than Letswithi - hindsight is a wonderful thing.”

Contacted for comment, Letshwiti said Butler’s allegations were not worth his comment, adding that as far as he knew, he was the one who was campaigning to be elected into the office.

“Honestly I cannot comment on some allegations that I don’t know, it is for him Butler and Zakhem to prove those claims,” he said.

He said a lot of people were involved in his campaign, adding that Zakhem supported him.

He said he was now puzzled as to why Zakhem was the only one singled out, yet different people supported him.

However, Zakhem said the allegations were baseless and held no water, adding that the coach was frustrated when he left, and he was abusing everyone including the newly appointed Zebras coach, Major David Bright.

“I am fed up with Butler, I haven’t spoken to him for a couple of months because this is not how people should be treated, let’s move on with our life, people come to this country and go. To be honest with you I don’t like Butler’s behaviour and it should not beentertained,” he said.

Below are some of  Butler’s tweets:
“It’s no secret Letswithi took Zakhem’s money; got elected then dumped him for the cronies around him today who influence him -no wonder Zakhem feels aggrieved wouldn’t you? Letswithi would not be where he is today if it was not for Nic Zakhem supporting him financially. Zac was instrumental in his campaign politically & financially - I’m led to believe they no longer speak - #greatshame As Zac was more instrumental than Letswithi #nomore.
I had many conversations with real Motswana football people Ashford M & Ismail B who loved my vision and road map, they are as appalled as everyone else what this guy is doing to the game in the country – However, they are powerless #tragic.” ENDS