Badminton leadership promises to deal with indiscipline
The Botswana Badminton Association (BBA) intends to crack down on indiscipline within the national team that has seen the association being sanctioned.
BBA is recovering from a hefty P40,000 fine imposed by the world governing body, Badminton World Federation (BWF) for failing to send players for international competitions, a move that left the association debilitated and a year away from the international stage.
Following the unsuccessful withdrawal of some of their players from international events, BBA was in the 2018/2019 cycle banned from all BWF events.
On Saturday, affiliates heard at the elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) player in-discipline led to the withdrawals from international competitions. “Sometimes you would find out that our hands were tied and there was nothing we could do.
I mean in the last minute of the preparations ahead of a tournament, a player will tell you that they have an examination coming or problems with their travelling documents.
In most cases that has left us with a depleted squad and hence we were forced to forfeit our participation from competitions, this is why today we had an issue such as the fine that was imposed on us,” outgoing secretary-general, Thuso Mudongo said in the meeting held in Gaborone.
Commenting on the matter, member affiliates suggested that the players found guilty of indiscipline should be sanctioned too. “We have had times even here that we fine clubs when they fail to show up. I think now we should fine players too. Because this is getting out of hand, imagine player knowing that they have engagement such as an exam coming but they still assure they will be able to play.
I think they should be called to order too,” Hamilton Mpinyane of Re-Empire Badminton Club said. Badminton also met to elect in a new executive committee. Former vice president-administration, Moses Macheke ousted Mpinyane from the presidency.
Thobo Bogatsu is the new secretary-general replacing Mudongo while Thobo Tshosa has been elected as the new public relations.
Executive Committee: President: Mr Moses Macheke
Vice President: Kegomoditswe Gaodumelwe
Technical Director: Emmanuel Seokamo
Treasurer: Wame Maposa
Secretary General: Thobo Bogatsu
Public Relations Officer: Thobo Tshosa
Events Manager: Mr Edward Lesole