BFA, BFL mess unravels
The Botswana Football Association (BFA) annual Ordinary General Assembly meeting of the 10th October 2020 resolved to hand the elite league and the First Division league autonomy, giving birth to a new entity called Botswana Football League (BFL).
However, the autonomy of the two entities was granted before the constitution of the BFL was officially adopted, as a result First Division League members now find themselves sailing in the treacherous waters of no man’s land. Recently, members of Debswana First Division League were turned into mere spectators during BFA, Regional Football Associations’ Annual General Assemblies, as they were deemed not to be part of BFA but rather members of BFL. The 16 premier league teams after being granted autonomy, resolved to register BFL as a proprietary company with all teams being shareholders, therefore leaving the First Division clubs in the lurch.
Presently First Division members have increasingly grown frustrated due to lack of recognition by both BFA and BFL. Their input is non-existent at the top table of decision makers. According to close sources, a virtual meeting has been held between the BFL and First Division to find a common goal on how First Division can officially become part of BFL. This publication has it in good authority that, in the wake of that meeting, the BFL draft constitution will be amended after both parties identified gaps. A recommendation has been made that, First Division league could remain under the auspices of BFA for another year. However this is a decision that will require a ratification by the general assembly to hand back first division league to BFA. An urgent meeting between BFA CEO, BFL CEO, legal advisors and representatives of First Division is expected to convene again in the near future to decide on the way forward. “We are no longer under BFA, we don’t know yet by what form because we thought since we are from regions we will affiliate there, unfortunately we have been told that is also not possible. We are said to be under BFL, but they have shares, and we don’t, we can’t even vote for BFL board,” First Division South Chairman Sidney Magagane pointed out ahead of the meeting with BFL.
Reached for comment on the current situation, BFL chairman Aryl Ralebala said engagements are underway to find ways to induce First Division into BFL. “Currently we manage First Division, we help them in administrative issues to make sure they will be ready and fully complying once they are promoted, they only become substantial decision markers after promotion. Our constitution is work in progress, initially when the constitution was adopted First Division was not part of BFL,” Ralebala highlighted.
Quizzed to offer clarity on the matter, BFA Chief Executive Officer Goabaone Taylor referred this publication to a document of the resolution taken at the annual Ordinary General Assembly meeting of the 10th October 2020. The document states that: “Subsequent to the granting of autonomy and registration of the new entity, the Premier League made a request to the effect that the administration of the National Division League remain with the Botswana Football Association whilst the BFL is working on structural and logistical issues to facilitate for the incorporation of the National First Division in the operations of the BFL. The matter will be placed before the National Executive Committee at its next sitting for direction.” According to informants close to the subject, there has been several requests by First Division leaders to the powers that be at BFA for a meeting to find a solution. Amongst possible solutions pointed out is; to dissolve First Division committee and grant the teams part of the BFL shares. Alternatively, First Division would welcome to be given an autonomy to run as an independent organ.
The general feeling amongst First Division top brass is that, following last year’s BFA elective congress, in which six (6) out of eight (8) First Division delegates voted against the incumbent, they are now being made to pay a heavy price. Close observers to the developments ahead of the congress were of the view that, the move which was done in a rush ahead of the BFA elective congress was a political ploy to get votes at the congress.