BPL CEO, Bennett Mamelodi

Embattled Botswana Premier League Chief Executive Officer (BPL CEO), Bennett Mamelodi has been reinstated to his position by the Botswana Football Association (BFA), ending months of court cases that caused mayhem in the football fraternity.

WeekendSport has it on good record that BFA President, Tebogo Sebego has informed the interim chairman of the Premier League, Okaile Rapula about the development on the 5th of July 2016.

‘‘I write to notify you that at its meeting of Wednesday 29th June 2016, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) National Executive Committee(NEC) resolved not to support the Botswana Premier League (BPL) in its case against its Chief Executive Officer Mr. Bennett Mamelodi,’’ Sebego wrote, in a letter seen by this publication.

In taking this position, the letter states, ‘‘the NEC agreed, among others, that all the charges against the CEO be withdrawn and that the CEO and his Personal Assistant (PA) be recalled back to work immediately.’’

He further wrote that the BFA lawyers together with Mamelodi’s representatives be informed of the decision, taking into account the time lines which were drawn by the industrial court.

In June, Mamelodi and his legal representatives proceeded to the industrial court to argue his case against what they termed an “unceremonious suspension”. Mamelodi was set aside owing to reports of office abuse and mal-administration.

When arguing his case, Mamelodi demanded that a replying affidavit by (Premier League acting Chairperson) Okaile be disposed without qualms. This was primarily the case because Mamelodi and his team believed that Rapula was powerless to exercise a right to suspend or expel him from BFA.

Mamelodi’s team was also looking to force the local mother body to deliver a copy of the agenda for the meetings held on the dates of 6th and 22nd of April 2016. This, according to documents, was to be accompanied by minutes of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held on the same dates and duly signed by the mother body to show endorsement.

It was argued that Okaile, who is also serving in the premier league board as Gaborone United chairman, had deliberately flouted the constitution of the Association when processing documentation to suspend the young brother of Ashford Mamelodi.

It turned out that, Dutch Leburu, Mamelodi’s advocate managed to convince the court that indeed his client was suspended without the resolution of the NEC, despite the BFA president having sworn that the same had been done.

Mamelodi was head hunted in 2012 by the leadership of Mike Molefhe. He was primarily brought to bring more sponsors into the league, as his football language was deemed “too convincing to ignore”. However, his ascendency to this post ruffled a few feathers.  The board was not in unison regarding Mamelodi being brought in. Some even called for the post to be advertised to avoid them being accused of favoritism at a later stage.

Earlier this year, his contract was extended for further two years. But deliverables were set to align it with the newly established league strategy.