BNSC STADIUM MIX UP
Whilst BAA continued with their schedule, footballers were turned into mere spectators, as answers on the cause of the drama were not forth coming. This publication gathered that the BFL officials had not booked the facility from the BNSC and therefore the game could not go on, leaving both coaches, Mandivenga Paradzayi (Gilport Lions) and Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare (Morupule Wanderers) bitterly disappointed. The BFL Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Ramochotlhwane told this publication that he was surprised by the news as they believed that all necessary arrangements were made for the match to take place.
“We work together with BNSC, we got into meetings and agreed on the schedule, if we were notified of the unavailability of the ground, we could have moved the game to another venue. We normally engage every six (6) weeks to finalize match venues,” the BFL CEO responded when reached for a comment after the cancellation of the match. The BNSC dismissed suggestions that there was an agreement in place with BFL for the match and further added that they had notified BFL officials of the unavailability of the venue.
“We sat down with Premier League bosses, we notified them well in time that BAA had booked the date of the 9th, the fixtures that they shared with us show that there was no game scheduled on the 9th. We also had a big activity (Soul Fill Up) the previous weekend and the ground had not been cleaned yet at the time of the match; we can never deny BFL to use the stadium when it is available,” BNSC
Marketing and Communications Officer, Modiri Ontitile shared. Gaborone United reportedly hired personnel to clear the pitch ahead of their Sunday clash with BDF XI which they booked less than 24 hours prior to kick-off of match after they learnt of the Saturday circus. In the match commissioners’ report, failure to book the venue was stated as the reason for match cancellation. Sun Sport gathered that the two teams have already filed invoices to the BFL board on Monday, requesting for refund of the cost they incurred over the matter. Reached for comment, Gilport Lions Executive Chairman,
Kelesitse Gilika declined to comment on the matter and said they are still awaiting an update from the BFL on what transpired over the weekend. When quizzed on who will compensate the two teams for the cost incurred on the day, the BFL CEO did not offer a definitive answer but rather reffered this publication to article 9.1 of the BFL competitions rules and regulations 20212022, which states: “The onus of providing a home venue for each match that meets the leagues’ requirements shall be on the home member club.” It further explains that the failure to do so shall results in the said member facing
some repercussions, amongst them a misconduct charge and reimbursement to affected parties. However, close sources to the matter claim that, the above statutes in the BFL play rules and regulations was given a waiver due to shortage of grounds in the country. According to close informants, the clubs have no business whatsoever with BNSC, adding that, they also use the BNSC facilities free of charge. BFL has been engaging the local sport governing mother-body to secure grounds for its members.