FUB transforms electoral system
The eagerly anticipated Footballers Union of Botswana ( FUB) Extra Ordinary Congress is scheduled for Saturday 10 July 2021, followed by the Elective Congress, where the Union will adopt their amended constitution and vote in new leadership, among other things.
In an interview this week FUB Secretary General, Kgosana Masaseng said the new constitution has a number of progressive changes.
“We used to vote for only the President and the Vice President, who would in turn appoint other positions basing on their special skills; this time around all positions are going to be contested for as per the amended constitution. We are going to request from players that they accept the proposals.”
Previously the president and his vice were tasked with the appointment of the Treasurer, Secretary General, Head of Medical, Head of Legal and Head of Technical among several other positions.
One of the highlights of the amendment of the constitution is that there will be increase in female representation. “We have been having one female representative in the board and we have now increased the number to three, the second vice president position will be reserved for a woman; this is our way of taking women seriously.”
Furthermore, there will be a fully independent electoral committee to organize and run the elections in turn, ensuring fair and transparent elections.
All members of the Union will be allowed to contest for the elections.
Masaseng said this is a way of democratizing the Union, ensuring that the elections are free and fair without any problems and anyone can contest for the elections as long as they are standing members of the Union.
He admitted that the Union has achieved quite a handful as they go into their 11th year of existence. “We have pushed for the introduction of statutes which regulate the game; we have fought for the introduction of standard contracts. Players used to sign security and construction contracts just because team financers were in those businesses.”
In addition, he said their advocacy for a judicial body also paid off as they established the National Dispute Resolution Chamber ( NDRC), which ensured that players do not go to Labor offices and courts to address their contractual disputes which could be a lot expensive for them.
Among other things, the Union has introduced the regulation for working with intermediaries or player agents as everyone was into the business of selling players. Moreover, they have ensured that the voices of the players are heard in the corridors of power, especially with the Botswana Football Association ( BFA) leadership. Player development program and player welfare also fall among the most outstanding things that the Union has managed to achieve over the years.