The Voice (Francistown)
Monnakgotla Mojaki
8 April 2008
Francistown — With just four months before the next BFA assembly gathers to elect a new president and other NEC members, the campaign for the highest position in the committee looks to be more in the board rooms than out the in open.
There is, however, still a lot of indecision in the men who want to fight it out for the coming Botswana Football Association-National Executive Committee. Only former BFA President, David Fani, is 100% optimistic that he is definitely making a come-back.
The current BFA President, Philip Makgalemele, is still to make a final decision. The other third contender is Premier League Chairman, Booker Bannister, who is also still to make a final decision.
Word going around the sports fraternity is that Makgalemele stands a better chance of being elevated to the Botswana National Sports Council Chairperson's position. The position is currently being held by Dorcus Makgato Malesu, who will be going out in July. When asked about interests in that position, more so that the sports fraternity already sees him as an option, Makgalemele said it will be good to serve the country in any position he is called upon to.
"At the moment I am concentrating on the BFA mandate which ends in August. I can't, as yet, confirm if I will stand after my term because priority is what I have at hand," Makgalemele said.
Recently, there were reports that Makgalemele and the former Minister of Sports and Culture, Moeng Pheto were not seeing eye-to-eye. The war of words between the two was started by the revealing by Pheto of the senior national team coach, Colwyn Rowe's salary in parliament. When asked if the exit from the Ministry by Pheto gave him a chance to be nominated because Chairpersons are nominated by the Minister, Makgalemele was of a different view.
"No, I don't stand a better chance than anybody because of a change of the guard; not at all. What I can say is that there are other capable people like Martin Mokgwathi. Even with the last minister, I still had a chance like any other sports leader. It will, however, be good to be elevated after all the service I rendered to sports. Like a patriotic citizen, I will be open to be called upon and serve at any capacity," Makgalemele explained
Former BFA President, David Fani, has confirmed that indeed some clubs and regions have already approached him with the view to have him back into football.
"Oh, yes, I can confirm that I will be standing for elections at the next assembly. There has been an appeal by various stakeholders to come back and I can't be lost to football completely." Fani told Voice Sports.
Those who support Fani are of the view that although he had his weaknesses, one thing about him is that he is a clean man. Fani is viewed to be a more transparent fellow. They say his honesty gives him an edge over any other candidate.
Fani is believed to have been very fair during his tenure even when it came to Gaborone United, a team where he cut his teeth at.
Makgalemele, who is the incumbent, is said to be a hard worker who pursues matters with all his energy. He is credited with being there and taking action all the time and making sure he drives the ship. His only problem, according to sources close to the two men, is that he normally has a soft heart for those he has been close to a factor which got him accused of favouring a club he once led, Notwane.
"If he is judged on the energy he puts on any BFA job than the mistakes, I believe he is equally a good leader because sometime it is helpful to have a leader who is hands-on," the source said.
Fani's weakness, according to the same source, is that sometimes he takes more time consulting than making decisions. This is said to be probably because of his law background.
The third person in the race is none other than Booker Bannister, the current Premier league Chairperson. When contacted for comment, he couldn't confirm his candidature as he was still consulting.
Sources within the premier league say there has been division on whether the chairman should have their blessing and challenge for the top positions. Some clubs are said to be of the view that the BFA constitution should be amended so that the Premier league chairperson automatically becomes the vice president of the association. If this is agreed upon, Bannister is said to remain in the premier league.
PLC Secretary, Setete Phuthego, was however cagey when he was asked about their league committee supporting the chairperson to wrestle the top position.
"The premier league is a big constituency by itself we need somebody who can think about us all the time. We want representation. I don't think we will have a problem in choosing who to support when election time comes. As we speak, there hasn't been any candidate who came to us lobbying. We have five voting slots and can also lobby others who come to the assembly to support us," Phuthego told Voice Sports.
Bannister's downfall may just be that some people feel he spends most of his time outside the country on business. This is said to have made the league suffer when they needed him urgently. He is, however, credited with restoring order when his clubs were at loggerheads with the BFA top brass. When Township Rollers and BFA seemed to be heading to the courts after the Coca Cola Cup debacle the year before last, Banister is said to, through the help of FIFA development officer, Ashford Mamelodi, helped restore order before the worst happened.
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