Why Dipsy snubbed BFA leadership race
Sport
Former Botswana international Diphetogo Selolwane has explained the reason behind snubbing the Botswana Football Association (BFA) leadership race despite having been approached by various individuals within the contesting camps.
With many retired players coming to lead football associations in various countries, expectations were that one of the retired football players in Botswana will also raise their hand and challenge for leadership positions at the BFA elective Annual General Assembly. The elections are anticipated to be held in Francistown this month (at a date to be announced).
Former players are fond of criticising and blaming BFA for neglecting them after retiring. Observers believe players should come to the fore in leading local football and putting their experience and knowledge of the game to use. Selolwane, popularly known as Dipsy, has come out to justify his decision for not standing for BFA elections, citing that his football academy and business have made it hard for him to participate in the race.
Dipsy, who has plied his trade in various countries, including South Africa, Denmark and the United States, contends that he would not have time to lead the association. He however admitted that he was approached by different camps and he was once interested in challenging for a leadership position in BFA NEC.
You do not necessarily need to be in NEC to be a leader in football. It has to be a thing you are passionate about as an individual, said the former University of Pretoria attacking midfielder. I did not stand because my academy and other businesses needed me more so I could not have time for other commitments but maybe in future you never know I may stand if everything permits.”
Selolwane also revealed that former players can play other roles besides being in the NEC as there are many ways they can play their part in developing football without necessarily being political. “You need to know that NEC elections can be too political something that former players are not used to and are new to. So this can make it hard for them to stand, and the campaigns need money and one spends a lot in such things.
So personally I feel former players are not only recognised because they are in NEC, does being in NEC make you more recognised? asked the outspoken Selolwane rhetorically.I am not supporting any team. I only want those who are seriously interested in taking our football forward to lead the association. Football needs minds that know what they want to do for our football whether they are former players or not it does not matter.
What matters is they should be taking our football to the next level. Our argument should be; are those standing having the best interest of football at heart?” The 42 year-old Selolwane has played for Gaborone United and has seen his career take him to America where he played for clubs such as Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake in the Major League Soccer (MLS) and in South Africa where he had an illustrious career, donning the shirts of Santos, Jomo Cosmos, Cape Town, SuperSport and University of Pretoria.
Selolwane was part of the Zebras team that qualified for Gabon 2012, where he scored Botswanas debut goal at the tournament.
For his part former Township Rollers player, States Segopolo said even though the number of former players coming to challenge for BFA positions are low, he believes with time they will have former players challenging for the presidency.
“I feel former players are beginning to see the importance of not waiting to be recruited to stand for positions as they see that you can wait for forever so it is upon them to raise their hands and challenge for positions they are comfortable with. The likes of Mlungisi, Chandy will add to Marshalow, Sebego and Nchingane so the number is not that bad. But we need to have more of them even former female players,” said States Segopolo.

The National Stadium will be lit up with fireworks on April 29, 2023, as some of the best international athletes will participate in the maiden Botswana Grand prix.
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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.”

Botswana Football Association (BFA) has been ordered to pay its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Goabaone Taylor over P330 000 as a compensation for her unfair dismissal last year February.
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