Chiefs could be charged
Sport
Botswana Premier League (BPL) Prosecutor is preparing to drag trouble-torn Mochudi Centre Chiefs to the charge table for allegedly bringing the game of football into disrepute – a scenario concealed within the premier league playoff game that was to decide the ultimate 2015-2016 title winner.
WeekendSport learns that the league house sent a communiqué to the Kgatleng giants on the 26th of July to show cause why they should not be reprimanded for ‘taking football instructions lightly.’
According to a letter written to the club, the league’s disciplinary body believes that Chiefs treaded on thin ice when they carried and fielded only seven players to face Township Rollers on the 23rd of July at Francistown Sports Complex.
‘‘It is alleged that on the aforesaid date, on account of misconduct by your team, the aforesaid football game was stopped and/or abandoned before the full playoff time. ‘‘ It is alleged further that in breach of the play Rules and Regulations of the Botswana Football Association(BFA); article 25.1, your team failed to accept and/or timeously obey instructions, orders and decisions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) directing the play-off match between the two teams to conclude matches for the 2015-2016 seasons,’’ the letter further reads.
Further, the prosecutor pointed Chiefs to article 25.6; ‘‘your team acted in a manner that may be properly interpreted as bringing the game of football into disrepute,’’ the letter states.
All the above articles of the Play Rules and Regulations talk about ‘misbehaviour’- where thinking is incited that Centre Chiefs had a master plan not to play the game.
The team was given until Friday to have responded to the BPL prosecutor’s letter where upon stern action will be spelt out.
However, this publication has further intercepted Centre Chiefs’ response where they have asked for a maximum of three days extension to acknowledge and study the past proceedings. In their letter, signed by Raymond Tsheko, Magosi wants to be furnished with the necessary documents as this will help in a matter they feel has serious legal implications.
‘‘We appeal to your office to extend the time frame of three days demanding our response to this matter. In our view, this matter has serious legal implications and as such the stipulated time period is not reasonable enough for us to provide full account of the matter beforehand,’’ they wrote.
Chiefs further proposes 14 days as a reasonable time frame to exhaust all legal and administrative consultation with their stakeholders.
They also demand that the league office avail the referees’ match report, the match commissioner’s report, together with the minutes of the meeting of the July 14th 2016 held at Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) conference room.
The Kgatleng outfit had fielded only seven players in a game against bitter rivals, Township Rollers. The game was abandoned on the 40th minute after Chiefs’ player, Arnold Mampori received a head injury that forced him out of the game. According to world football governing body-FIFA laws, a game can only be played by minimum of 7 players, and if the number is below 7, the game has to be called off.
Clifford Mogomotsi, Centre Chiefs media liaison expressed shock at the league’s letter. ‘‘ We are very shocked that these guys want to charge us, but we will wait for everything to be concluded more so because we believed we have explained ourselves before the game,’’ he said.
The game itself has been surrounded by controversy. It was first postponed by the Sports Commission to give priority to the Senior National Team that was preparing for COSAFA games. A feeling grew around the football fraternity that the playoff match has been over taken by events.
The tussle between the two clubs, which has now brought the league to a standstill, has its roots on Zebras’ player, Ofentse Nato. The Kgatleng outfit were the first club to protest his registration procedures, but different BFA legal structure pronounced different judgment on him-some saying he was a defaulter, others opposition.
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Sport
AFRICA’S RECOVERY: Sports as game changer
The year 2022 witnessed unprecedented phenomena. Several Africans- Gotytom Gebreslase, Sharon Lokedi, Victor Kiplangat, Tamarit Tola and many others- swept the World’s marathons records.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting control measures implemented in several countries, led to many high-level sports competitions being cancelled or shelved, the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games was moved to 2026.
Founder and Executive Chairman, African Sports and Creative Institute, Will Mabiakop, says the inability to hold traditional and amateur sports events have had a serious effect on public health overall, including mental health, sparking a revolution whereby athletes began to talk more openly about stress, mental overload and performance anxiety.
“Africa is home to the fastest growing economies before the crisis, no longer on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 deepened interdependence between SDGs, making them harder to achieve, especially SDG 10 (reducing inequality) and SDG 5 (gender equality_ as the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on poorer countries, and heavier burdens (such as care work) fell to women.”
Mabiakop stresses that as policymakers contemplate actions to speed up recovery and build resilience, they must argue that sports and creative businesses should play a central feature in this effort.
“The sports economy worldwide is estimated at 5% of GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa. If exploited, Africa’s sports and creative industries can offer policymakers innovative solutions. Especially, as regards job creation, and providing employment to the 15 million people entering the job market annually.”
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY DO THIS?
By leveraging the two-for-one concept: past studies shown that a 1% growth in the economy delivers a 2% job increment in this sector (these ratios are calculated using data from 48 African countries and adjusted to the reality of the sports economy in Africa by the authors). There are between 30 and 50 job types, in sports and creative industries, respectively. These jobs do not fade away with the first major shock.
Mabiakop indicated that policymakers can use these industries to tackle multiple crises- jobs, poverty, and climate risks. Sports diplomacy- defined as communication, representation and negotiation in or through the prism of sports- has proven effective in building inclusive and cohesive societies. Moreover, sports and the creative industry can support better mental health and well-being, both important for productivity.
“Policymakers can also be true to the game by leveraging culture and tradition to celebrate identity and reap commercial value in sports, textiles and jewelry. Creative sectors allow deeper connection with culture, are not easily copied and provide great economic potential.”
He said supporting grassroots sports has powerful distributional effects. “Fortunately, technology has made reaching wide audiences easier, generating higher rates of success when talent is discovered.”
However, Mabiakop held that potential pitfalls must be highlighted. “First avoid build it and they will come policies with infrastructures denuded from the rest of the ecosystem. Like the many sports stadiums left largely unused.”
“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”