17 Jun 2020

 Although the Botswana Football Association (BFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) has ended the league season, it is yet to decide the fate of the Orange FA Cup.

BFA recently ended the premier league which had been on hold for about two months due to the outbreak of COVID–19. The league was initially expected to end in May. 

In an interview, BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo said the fate of the Orange FA Cup would be looked into by the local organising committee who would make recommendations to the NEC. 

Football administrator, Kagiso Rantswaneng said a football season was defined as a period in which all football activities organised under the auspices of a football body or federation were held. 

Therefore, all football activities held under the auspices of the BFA such as leagues and cup competitions in a given period constitute a football season.

He also noted that it was embedded in the BFA constitution that the season must be concluded by the time the general assembly was held.

“It is baffling for the BFA NEC to apply their decision in a selective manner, and once the football season is over, there will be no activity related to the current season still ongoing or planned to take effect,” he said.

Rantswaneng said for the BFA NEC to pronounce that they were awaiting recommendations from the Orange FA LOC was wrong.

He wondered how the BFA managed to conclude the premier league, but failed to apply the same principles to the FA Cup which was left with seven games.

“I think there is more than what meets the eye. My honest opinion is that no proper consultation was done with Orange as the sponsor, and the BFA NEC still has to convince them on their decision,” he said.

Furthermore, Rantswaneng said for the BFA NEC, it was easy to take a decision on a priceless competition such as the premier league, but found it difficult to end the Orange FA Cup competition because it benefited the association financially.

“Notwithstanding the above, and contradicting submissions made by both the BFA president at his press briefing and his CEO on radio, we have been told that the FA cup will proceed accordingly,” he said.

Rantswaneng noted that the BFA press release on Sunday only alluded to the play-offs as the last activity to conclude the current season, and that the FA Cup was not mentioned.

He also noted that the BFA leadership was empowered by the constitution to make any call they deemed fit and fair for the advancement of football in the country.

“I don’t recall any article that empowers them to be selective in applying the rules that govern their existence. 

The football season has been declared by the BFA NEC as over and so it must be over. 

There should be no spill over activities of the closed football season,” he said. ends