21 May 2019

Botswana Football Association (BFA) has launched a programme dubbed  ‘Operation Time for Change’, which seeks to change the way football is run in the country.

Launching the programme on May 20, BFA president, MaClean Letshwiti said it would include sensitising football leaders on adminsitration and management of football adding that it would also incorporate good governance at all levels of the association and NEC.

Furthermore, he said it would also seek to activate regions to understand that their roles as nerve centres for football development and as partners were much wider than normally perceived.

“I sincerely thank FIFA for approving that the BFA should commence with this programme. This programme is the first of its kind, which explains why I have been relentlessly pursuing FIFA for the programme to be approved for Botswana,” he said.

Letshwiti said BFA would embark on the first phase of the programme; which is to empower football leaders in the regional structures throughout the country.

He said with resources permitting, the programme would be implemented in national leagues, standing committees, BFA secretariat staff and the national executive committee.

He said they would put more emphasis on good governance adding that football had suffered a huge deficiency not only in Botswana, but many other African countries.

“Even before the first phase is done, I trust and hope that an opportunity will arise that ‘Operation Time for Change’ will tackle the thorny matter relating the professionalisation of the Botswana Premier League,” he said.

He said the programme, which enjoyed the full backing of BFA NEC, would be spearheaded by Ashford Mamelodi, who is FIFA accredited instructor and consultant.

For his part, Mamelodi said ‘Operation Time for Change’ was an outreach programme to the regions adding that they would ensure that members of the association were fully cognizant of their roles in their respective regions.

“As you all know, the game begins in the regions,” he said.

He further pointed out that as coaches unearth future stars, the administration should be put well in place. ENDS