08 Oct 2020

There is euphoria in the football community ahead of an elective general assembly tomorrow.

For the first time in the history of Botswana football, delegates representing various structures of Botswana Football Association (BFA) will hold a virtual meeting and at the end, they will go to the polls through secret ballot.

Upon voting, a new committee will be ushered into office to run football affairs for the next four years.

The incumbent president, Maclean Letshwiti is being challenged by his predecessor, Tebogo Sebego who is seeking a return, and another challenge, former president of Botswana Karate Association, and former BFA chief executive officer Ookeditse Malesu.

The candidates have been traversing the country in their quest to lure votes, for the BFA top positions.

In his Manifesto, Letshwiti promised voters that he was eager and ready to once again lead the BFA to yet another four years of traceable achievements, which direct and propel football game into the right direction, characterised by glaring and sustainable improvement at levels of individuals, teams, leagues, regional bodies as well as at the BFA management too.

He said in his four-year term as the president of BFA he placed such changes at the forefront of his roadmap to transform the football game.

Letshwiti said his presidency had brought into the football game, financial stability, governance, improved stakeholder relations and professionalisation.

The next four years, he said shall be dedicated to aggressive implementation of the good changes that they developed and have been accepted by the football community.

On the other hand, Sebego said Botswana football of yester-years prided itself in being a game of exceptional repute, one that had an incredible following and spoke to every Motswana and residents alike.

The beautiful game, he said brought many stakeholders together, and demonstrated national unity and harmony of all time, as espoused in the national anthem.

In his manisfeto, he said the football of yester-years saw the country export top quality players to regional teams, something which was a good starting point for Botswana to participate in the global space. 

“We all knew we had a special place in the beautiful game. This conducive environment in our football, created a distinct image for the Botswana Football Association locally, regionally and internationally. It boosted player confidence and inspired many teams to strive to reach the National League and showcase their talents, both in players and coaches,” says Sebego’s manifesto.

Malesu’s Manifesto on the other hand indicates that they note that football has grown as an industry throughout the world and their believe was that the growth of the game had caught the stakeholders napping, hence they were found lagging behind in a number of factors.

His diverse team, he said  offers the opportunity to rethink, channel and drive football to greater heights adding they have a strategy in place to fast-track implementations of football programmes  and get the right people to drive its projects.

He therefore said they pledge to enhance regional football association structures through the immediate and eminent establishment of Secretariat as they believe that the hub of football development and majority of activities were at the regions.

 He said if voted they would capacitate regional structures with full training through sending of such to training Institutions who were their partners in various fields.

The Ordinary General Assembly shall take place virtually at different areas, Jwaneng for structures in the Greater Kgalagadi area and Gantsi Area, Palapye for structures within the greater Palapye and Selebi Phikwe Area: Francistown for structures within the greater Francistown. Boteti, Maun and Chobe Area, Gaborone for structures within the greater Gaborone Area.

Team Maclean is made up of Letshwiti as the head, Marshlow Motlogelwa would vie for vice president one, Masego Ntshingane for vice president two, for women’s representative Tsoseletso Magang, additional members Alec Fela, Chandy Moruti, and Tico Marenga Kamati.

Team Sebego, is made up of  Sebego as the head, Maokaneng Bontshetse as vice president one, Senky Sesinyi is vying for vice president two, Itsholeng Disang is contesting for  women’s representative, while  Carlos Sebina, Marcos Letebele, and  Kesego Okie  will be contesting for the additional members positions.

Team Malesu is headed by Malesu, Ngele Gabriel Ngele  and Solly Ramochothwane  will compete for vice president one and two respectively, Joy Setshedi will compete for the women representative, while  Theresa Hirschfield, Davies  Kopi Tokyo Modise are contesting for the additional members. ENDS