BFA saga triggers realignment of forces
The Botswana Football Association (BFA) lost one of its longest-serving National Executive Committee (NEC) members, Marshlow Motlogelwa this week.
Motlogelwa served as first vice president but became the first high profile figure to leave the association following recent reports of misuse of FIFA funds estimated at P6 million.
The funds were diverted for other operational costs, other than the FIFA projects. The association also incurred a further P2.8 million deficit due to unsanctioned spending, which led to the suspension of Motlogelwa.
The issue was likely to lead to a fall out, or even be used to even the ledger in long-standing squabbles. Motlogelwa has been the first fall guy, in a saga BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti admitted ranks among the association’s lowest points.
Motlogelwa’s departure on Wednesday is just one of many seismic shifts expected to take place in the coming days.
The Lekidi Football Centre doors will open to welcome back former CEO, Mfolo Mfolo to replace Goabaone Taylor, who was expected to be sacked before today. A guilty verdict has already been reached by the disciplinary
committee led by Leviet Ntwaagae. Taylor reportedly questioned Ntwaagae’s role, arguing he was already involved in BFA’s structures and could, therefore, fail the partiality test.
Ntwaagae is expected to be ‘rewarded’ with the human resources and administration officer post, so goes speculation.
In Motlogelwa’s place, there have been a number of names thrown with Moakaneng
Bontshetse in the picture.
Bontshetse unsuccessfully challenged Motlogelwa during the 2020 BFA elections. Reports are that Bontshetse has already turned down overtures to have him on board, as “he is still hard at work behind the scenes to bring down Letshwiti,” the sources say.
Another prominent name has been that of former BFA president, Tebogo Sebego. It is reported that Letshwiti is surprisingly keen to work with the man he defeated for the position in 2016 and 2020. But those close to Sebego say he has already rebuffed the approach, and instead he wants to go full throttle and challenge for the presidency in 2024.
Then there are conspiracy theorists who claim there is an even bigger hand in Motlogelwa’s departure. Motlogelwa is reportedly eyeing political office at the next general elections, and a political twist to his departure is being bandied about. It is said his political opponent wanted him gone as early as yesterday, in order to use the ‘dismissal’ from BFA to gain points. The speculations extended to the BFA president himself, with reports Letshwiti will seek another term in 2024, with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations bid in mind.
Nothing official yet, as the FIFA funds saga has sent the grapevine into overdrive. However, what is apparent is that forces are realigning with allegiances broken up as foes and allies patch up.