A maze of financial mismanagement that rocked the Botswana Premier League (BPL) in March this year has closed in on BPL Accounts Manager, (name withheld). Preliminary results of the ongoing forensic audit, according to information reaching this publication, recommended that he be suspended.

The preliminary results of the audit which were seen by high ranking members of the Botswana Football Association (BFA) last Friday somewhat sketch a picture of a disaster prone league office. It is highly anticipated that Accountant will not be hauled before hot coals alone, but that in fact, it is the tip that leads to the ongoing battle between the league and its suspended CEO, Bennett Mamelodi.   

The suspended Accountant is a former BFA employee-occupying the same post of accountant- before Mamelodi recruited him to his office. He is regarded as the closest confidante of Mamelodi and they are said to have in their time in office flouted office procedures. Mamelodi is also expected to be suspended again after the release of the audit.

However, the blood brother of FIFA development officer, Ashford Mamelodi is not taking the matter lying down. He is currently challenging his suspension at the Industrial Court. When reached for clarity, the Accountant would not comment about his sudden suspension, but referred all enquiries to the football association.

It was expected that the Accountant would not escape the wrath of the new BFA administration particularly after the premier league board of governors began to whistle blow the matter sometimes in April of this year. The issue of  abuse of the premier league funds that led to the suspension of both Chairperson of BPL board, Walter Kgabung and his vice Solomon Mantswe, saw the office bleeding in deficit of P6 million. 

By then some elite league teams did not receive their annual grants while others had their bank accounts brimming with money. This was the case because sources prelude that the BPL was operating with a deficit. Under a deafening silence, where few minds were privy to details, loans were sourced outside to finance the decaying premier league despite sponsors, BTC pumping money to the league. This would later raise eyebrows while premier league teams began to be at odds with each other.   

The BPL maladministration was severe such that Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) officials clamped the offices in a bid to hunt for the remnants of the paper trail of money entering and leaving the office. After all this, the then BFA leadership led by incumbent President Mac Lean Letshwiti pushed for the forensic audit to identify the possible sources of the rot. Seemingly, it is through this said preliminary audit that Mpiwa is set aside although the BFA does not want to boldly admit it.

When reached for comment BPL acting CEO, Thabo Ntshinogang admitted that the BPL Accountant has been suspended but distanced himself from the matter referring WeekendSport inquiries to BFA mouthpiece, Tumo Mpatane.  “True, our Accountant is suspended pending disciplinary hearing,” Mpatane said. Quizzed further as to why he was suspended, Mpatane said, ‘‘I cannot divulge details because it is a matter between employer and employee.” BFA is expected to release a media statement soon regarding the Accountant‘s suspension.