Letshwiti allies out-smart Sebego troops
Sport
Challenger: Maclean Letshwiti
The pendulum is swinging in favour of new ambitious challenger, Maclean Letshwiti in the Botswana Football Association (BFA) elective congress billed for next month. Letshwiti’s foot soldiers dominated the regional leadership positions.
Out of the 16 regions in the country, the incumbent Tebogo Sebego has won only five, while playing draw with Letshwiti’s camp in the South-East region. Sebego has won Francistown Regional Football Association (FRAFA) under Maokaneng Bontshetse, the Phikwe region of Barulaganye Moloi, Kweneng of Lekgotla Raditloko, Southern under the eye of Lesego Leaketse and Central north. Besides, Mara’s camp as Sebego is known in football circles, has won the first division south following the win by Sam Keitireng and company last weekend.
The Letshwiti camp marshalled by the ever pursuant Chippa Mahloane, Marshlow Motlogelwa and Segolame Ramothwa is already on the lead, having won more delegates. In the quest to assume Lekidi football centre offices, they have snatched some of the Sebego’s strong-held areas like Tswapong of Fobby Radipotsane, and Nhabe region under Thato Motai and the whole Kgalagadi regions which Sebego dominated in 2012 when he white washed the then David Fani camp.
Chobe, Nhabe, Hukuntsi, Boteti, Central South, Kgatleng, Gaborone, Tsabong, Tswapong are all under Letshwiti’s camp. Further consolidating their stand was the fact that the camp won the women football, which reports indicate was lobbied by the spirited Senki Sesinyi who is also believed to be sympathetic to the former Mochudi Centre Chiefs investor.
The rival camps however shared spoils in the South East region as the Chairman is aligned to the incumbent president while the Secretary General is rooted to Letshwiti’s side, the same thing that happened at First division north where the committee is split into two strong equal camps.
With the grassroots phase of campaigns done and dusted, only the premiership can either save or further drown the Sebego led camp which now comprises of the experienced yet controversial Tariq Babitseng, Vice President- administration Basadi Akoonyatse and surprisingly Masego Ntshingane-who also wants a share of the pie as an additional member.
The prospects of Letshwiti assuming football leadership are further enhanced by the crisis experienced by the elite football teams. “Only five teams fall under Sebego’s camp and the remaining 11 have sworn that come what may, they will throw their weight behind Letshwiti. They blame Sebego for the crisis clouding elite football,” a source told Weekendsport.
Sources say Township Rollers, Police X1, Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Orapa United and Miscellaneous are all believed to be the rallying behind Sebego. The elections which are slated for July 30th are expected to be one of the most expensive ever following the two camps’ hiring of Public Relations agencies to handle their campaigns.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The BFA regional elections conducted over the past weekend into this week, in essence sends a confusing message to both president elects. Numbers are however favouring the new-front runner Letswiti and on the other hand painting hardnosed Sebogo as a victim of circumstance. The mess dirtying the football and the end of the season is literally weighing heavily on his camp. Having ascended to the BFA plum post in an unforgettable victory against the then confused Fani, Sebego saw his victory as a move manufactured from above.
The results however put question to his readiness to lead for another term and curiously bring Letshwiti close to the gates of Lekidi. It is however seen as a premature victory that can either pump more energy into Sebego’s allies or let Letshwiti’s troops rest in their laurels.
At the time of going to print, the two camps had retreated to their base to chew the cud. An observer who declined being named highlighted, ‘‘consciousness, not money will play a pivotal role in ushering a new president.’’
Sport
It’s do or die for Zebras
The senior national team, the Zebras, is currently in Equatorial Guinea to for an African Cup of Nations Qualifiers tie. Before they departed, the team’s coach, Mogomotsi Mpote, had his troops train in Morocco. This was through the agreement between the two countries.
The agreement between the BFA and the Fédération Moroccan Football Association states that the two nations will work together to organize friendly matches between their respective national teams. It also allows the establishment of football camps for the youth categories (U-15, U-17, and U-20), this includes women’s national teams.
The national team has played over 180 minutes in its two qualifying matches against Tunisia and Libya. Currently, the Zebras, Lesotho and Liberia are the only teams that haven’t scored yet in the competition (this is correct by press time on Friday).
Before the match against Equatorial Guinea match, the local boys who were once known as the whipping boys of Africa in the early 2000s, were languishing at the bottom of the log standings in group J. They lost their first match away to Libya on June 1, 2022. However, they managed to salvage a point against Tunisia last year.
Before the team left for Equatorial Guinea, coach Mpote urged his players to focus on keeping their hopes of making a return trip to the AFCON finals alive after an 11 year absence since the maiden appearance in 2012. He noted that they would not allow their opponents to score and would ensure that they would get a draw.
Despite the various changes that have occurred in the two countries’ football landscape, the two teams have only met once before. In 2010, the local boys defeated the Equatorial Guinea team in a friendly match, which ended in an emphatic win for the visitors. Since then, the two sides have realised different fortunes in FIFA rankings, with Equatorial Guinea ranked 51 places above the Zebras.
Meanwhile, in their last six games, Guinea has only managed to win one of them. They drew with Rwanda and Togo in September 2022 friendlies. They have found the back of the net just twice in their six games. On the other hand, the Zebras, won one match against Zambia and lost four on their way to finishing at the bottom of the group with four points. At the conclusion of their previous AFCON campaign, the local boys traveled to Zambia and secured a draw.
MPOTE CONFIDENT
Despite the recent results of the Guinean team, which have only managed to draw with Rwanda and Togo in their last six matches, coach Mpote is still confident that his team will perform well against the hosts.
According to the head coach, the local boys have the necessary skills and resources to perform well against any country. He noted that the team’s coaches have been studying abroad to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects of football.
“Tactically they should also be ready. We need your (Botswana fans) usual support, when we come back from Equatorial Guinea, we will go to Francistown, and we will need you. You are our 12th player, and you are very important to us.”
OBED ITANI CHILUME STADIUM CERTIFIED
This week, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) Tuelo Serufho revealed that the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium will host the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the local boys and Equatorial Guinea. The venue had initially failed an inspection test conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, following the completion of the necessary works, the stadium was allowed to host the match.
According to BNSC Chief, Tuelo Serufho, the various requirements that the stadium must meet included having a designated parking area for the media and spectators, as well as having signage that will guide the spectators. He also noted that the venue now has a world-class media area.
Sport
Jagdish Shah rejects Rollers society
Township Rollers, one of the country’s most decorated football clubs with 15 premier league titles, is finding itself in a precarious situation as its long-term chief financier, Jagdish Shah, threatens to dump them if the society does not bow down to his demand of forfeiting their 20 percent interest in the company.
This content is locked
Login To Unlock The Content!
Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.