15 Jun 2020

Some clubs in the BTC Premiership League, and it does not require rocket science to figure out which ones, have not welcomed Botswana Football Association’s (BFA) decision to end the 2019/2020 season as it currently stands.

The BFA national executive committee on June 14 announced the conclusion of the league before completion of fixtures since halting matches due to the outbreak of COVID–19. 

At the time of disruption, all teams were left with 10 matches.  

The decision has left a bitter taste among relegated teams who contend that the move has disadvantaged them, as they had been relegated prior to the end of the season. 

Log leaders, Jwaneng Galaxy have been declared champions while the bottom three clubs of Tafic, Molepolole City Stars and Miscellaneous have lost their premiership status and demoted to the National First Division.

In an interview, Molepolole City Stars chairperson, Somerset Gobuiwang said he was not happy with the BFA decision to halt the league.

Gobuiwang said the BFA leadership took an impulsive decision which was not in the good spirit of football.

“We are still looking at different options to follow, and we cannot rule seeking redress from the courts of law,” he said.

The club chairperson said he was appalled that BFA could take the decision with 10 games remaining. He said football was universal and that the association should familiarise themselves with what happened in France where the court blocked the relegation of Amiens and Toulouse after the 2019-20 season was cancelled.

Tafic Sporting Club chairperson, Carlos Sebina said as far as he knew his team was still in the elite league.

He said once he received communication, he would engage the association to map the way forward.

“In our engagement, I will be advocating for Botswana football, not only Tafic, for the best interests of the game,” he said. 

Sebina said the decision to relegate them was not objective, and urged Tafic supporters to remain calm as their leadership would engage the association. Sunday Standard sport journalist, Botlhale Koothopile said teams had to understand that the BFA was faced with a difficult situation based on what football and sport in general was facing.

“The association had to make a call and they did. When they took the decision to stop the league, they had their own reasons. One has to respect that at least they took a decision and hopefully they will defend it,” he said.

Furthermore, Koothopile noted that one of the tenets of football in particular was fair play. However, he said he was not sure if the BFA’s decision constituted fair play.

“When you join the league you do not sign a contract. You, however, agree to abide by certain rules. Amongst them is that you have to honour all fixtures, and if at the end of all agreed fixtures you are at the summit, you are the champion. If you are at the bottom, you are relegated,” he said.

Koothopile also noted that all the fixtures had not been played and that teams had the right to point that out to the association. He added that their contract was not concluded.

He also said all stakeholders understood that there was coronavirus. However, he said the league could be paused and continued when the threat of COVID-19 was gone.

“Alternatively, as no one will benefit from this contract, let’s cancel it and start a new contract, what is wrong with that?” he asked. ends