BFA, BNSC to finalise Zebras’ COSAFA incentives

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has revealed that the issue of incentives for the Zebras at the COSAFA tournament will likely be concluded before the matches start next week. Zebras kick-off their campaign against South Africa on July 6, 2021. BFA chief executive officer (CEO), Goabaone Taylor said they have done everything to ensure that the team is well resourced ahead of the trip to Port Elizabeth. She said the team has committed to play all the games up to the final.

“That is a very key commitment that we have found it fit to look into and see how best we can be able to support them. We are currently working with the government to see the sort of incentives and allowances that we can put in place for them. I can confirm that those are discussions that are ongoing. Hopefully, we can be able to conclude as soon as possible before the tournament starts,” Taylor said during a media briefing on Wednesday.

The issue of allowances has in the past caused a fallout between the players and the association. Recently the Zebras camp was rocked by another strike with players calling for issues of welfare to be looked into. Some of the players left camp although the association managed to convince others to return.

However, goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe did not return and has vowed he will never play for the team until the situation improves. Taylor said the issue of players’ welfare is a long standing problem and said she needs to deal with it so that it does not crop up time and again. She said the association is working with the government and the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) to try and improve the structure that looks at the players’ welfare.

“You will recall that we have been looking at the issues of allowances for camp and match day appearances. But those are not the only issues and for them to be dealt with, they have to be supported by the budget,” she said. Taylor said they are looking at ways in which they can resource that new structure. She said they are at a stage where they have not yet engaged with the players (on the structure) as well as other stakeholders because they first have to look at their budget.

“After that we can now sit down with the players and see what can excite them. It is important that in the future, the players know what is in store before they come to camp. So, all these things are being looked into and in the end we will come up with a policy document,” she said. The BFA chief added that the issue is still at an early stage and needs a lot of engagement and hard work.

On Dambe, Taylor said the former Zebras goalkeeper was addressing issues through the media but said she also tried to find ways of working around his concerns internally.

She said Dambe has not engaged her on the issues since she took office about three months ago.

She said they will engage with the player even if he does not formally write to the association. “That engagement will come,” she said.