BFA asks for immunity…
Sport
Botswana Football Association says (BFA) it is vulnerable amid the sudden suspension of sports and recreation and has consequently written to high-ranking sports authorities asking for exemption as the country battles the third complex wave of coronavirus. According to informants, the local football mother body believes that the suspension is a significant drawback to the carefully laid down plans and further disrupts their hatched policies to kick-start the 2021-2022 season just a month from now. In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), Tuelo Serufho, the association requests that the sports body be considerate and permit premier league clubs to continue training preparation to return to play are in full swing.
Information gathered claims that the association argues that the clubs have, before the suspension, been observing laid down COVID-19 protocols, and there is no how they could have contributed to the rising number of COVID-19 cases around the country. Weirdly, our clubs had just returned to training, and when everything was about to gain traction, we are told to stop again, it kills the momentum, and it cannot go on like this, an anonymous source from Lekidi Football Centre toldWeekendSport.
Serufho, on the other hand, confirmed receipt of the letter from the association but rightly dismissed their plea, contending that it cannot fly in these current circumstances.
Yes, it is true, BFA has written to us, but we are yet to respond officially. Remember, this is not about football only, but sport as a whole. I do not think their request will be successful, especially with the conditions we find ourselves enduring. They must wait and allow only Jwaneng Galaxy, Orapa United, and the ladies team, Double Action, to play because they are on national duties, Serufho explained.
The COVID-19 task force and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development believe sporting activities are also super-spreaders of the deadly virus. They argue that there is an urgent need to play a waiting game for at least three weeks to stabilize the situation.
However, there is a growing concern that sport in this country will die a natural death should the status quo remain in place. The suspension can come when the country was united by the mens 4x400m scintillating performance at the just ended Tokyo 2020 Olympics games. The golden boys brought home a bronze medal and the government, in the heat of the moment, found it fitting to reward them with Two bedroomed houses. But again, the government and sports bodies find themselves grappling with a familiar question; how do they want to improve sports performance within the era of COVID-19?
The suspension of sports activities also coincides with a time when football was about to forward a proposal to BNSC requesting all contracted players be included in the vaccine rollout and allow fully vaccinated people to attend matches.
All the while, some observers say it is still a farfetched dream as the country is running behind time to vaccinate the frontline workers and the general populace. As a result, industries like sport will always be on the back foot, notwithstanding its performances.
It is the third time sport is suspended after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. It is anybodys guess when and how the industry will proceed forward after all these lockdowns, but one thing that is coming out is that the BFA request will not see the light of the day.
A quarter of a year ago, Zebras’ strategist, Didier Gomes Da Rosa, took a decisive step by enlisting midfielder Brandon Wilson, who flexes his soccer prowess at Ha Noi Football Club (FC) in Vietnam.
Yet, the 27-year-old sensation found himself benched before the game even started, due to his Australian nationality, despite his roots firmly planted in Gaborone, Botswana.
Fast forward to today, and Wilson’s name is still missing from the latest Zebras’ lineup for the forthcoming four-nation friendly extravaganza set to unfold in Madagascar.
Pundits from the local football arena argue that this tournament, starring The Zebras alongside Madagascar, Rwanda, and Burundi as hosts, presented a golden ticket for Wilson to unveil his skills, merge his playstyle with his teammates, and pass down his seasoned insights to the squad.
Looking ahead, The Zebras face a rugged path in their 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Group, battling titans like Algeria, Somalia, Guinea, and Uganda—teams studded with Europe-based talents. Integrating Wilson into the team now would be nothing short of strategic.
Amidst this saga, a ray of hope shined through a High Court ruling, suggesting the Botswana government’s nod towards dual citizenship, potentially giving the BFA the nudge it needed to expedite Wilson’s case.
Yet, as 2023 unfurls, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Anna Mokgethi, hinted at a six-month timeline to legislating this change. “We’re laying down the legal and procedural groundwork to enable dual citizenship. This process will span at least six months.
This waiting game could be pegged to aligning with the court of appeal’s decision.
“This buffer is designed to ensure a seamless transition, enabling talents like Wilson to clinch their Botswana passports and don the Zebras jersey,”
On the V.League 1 Table (Vietnam) – 2023/24 front, Wilson’s squad, Ha Noi FC, is holding sixth place after 13 showdowns, boasting 19 points—a commendable feat for their freshman year in Vietnam’s Elite League.
Since his leap to Ha Noi FC on September 5, 2023, Wilson has left his mark on 15 matches across domestic and AFC Champions League arenas, an impressive feat for his inaugural season.
In a recent WeekendSport dialogue, Da Rosa sung praises of Wilson’s gameplay. “Wilson’s mastery of the field, his spatial awareness, and ball reception, earmark him as a midfield marvel. His strategic positioning is a lesson in discipline, a skill set our team can greatly benefit from.
“He’s a crucial cog in our quest toward the 2026 World Cup dream,” Da Rosa said.
The departure of Kitso Kemoeng from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture has been met with a sigh of relief by many, particularly by the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU). Kemoeng’s tenure as Permanent Secretary was marked by a lack of progress and engagement on the issue of reinstating school sports, which has been a crucial aspect of child development in Botswana.
BOSETU had accused Kemoeng of being a stumbling block to the resuscitation of school sports, citing his arrogant and anti-engagement attitude towards the issue. His transfer to the Botswana Public Service College has been seen as a positive development by the union, as it signals a clear message that non-delivery and lack of vision will not be tolerated within the government.
The union has expressed confidence in the new Permanent Secretary, Bright John, who is expected to bring a fresh perspective and understanding of the importance of sports and culture in the holistic development of children. The absence of school sports in Botswana has had a detrimental impact on the youth and the development of sports in the country, and it is imperative that immediate action is taken to reinstate these programs.
According to BOSETU the departure of Kemoeng from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture is a step in the right direction towards reviving school sports in Botswana. The union and other stakeholders are hopeful that under the leadership of Bright John, progress will be made in ensuring the well-being and development of the youth through sports. It is time to breathe a sign of relief and look forward to a brighter future for school sports in Botswana.
The abrupt severance of ties between Tafic Football Club and its erstwhile commander-in-chief, Philemon Makhwengwe, colloquially celebrated as the “Spin Doctor”, has sent ripples through the football aficionado community, given his laudable stewardship in the 2023/24 Botswana Premier League (BPL) crusade. The narrative of Matjimenyenga, as Tafic is affectionately dubbed, narrates a saga of resilience, having faced the ignominy of relegation to the Debswana First Division North on two occasions prior.
The chronicle of their fall from grace in 2018, settling at a dismal 14th place with a record marred by more losses than victories, delineates a club in dire need of strategic revival. Fast-forward to the present campaign, and the transformation under Makhwengwe’s aegis has been nothing short of remarkable. At the cessation of 16 rounds, Tafic perched at the fifth position with 24 points is a testament to an emboldened renaissance.
However, the plot thickened on the 20th of February, 2024, as Tafic pronounced the departure of Makhwengwe from his coaching pedestal via a Facebook communiqué, a move that bewildered the football-watching public. Discrepancies surfaced, with reports attributing his departure to discord with the club’s upper echelons over proposed adjustments within the technical team, painting a picture of internal discord.
Makhwengwe, a tactician revered for his prowess in architecting footballing triumphs, has been instrumental in Tafic’s ascent from the quagmire of league standings to a commendable sixth position. This leaves the footballing realm in suspense over Tafic’s trajectory post-Makhwengwe, especially after their recent conquest over Gaborone United, thrusting them into a formidable league position.
Amidst this backdrop of controversy, where Makhwengwe’s own assertions conflict with the official narrative – oscillating between resignation and dismissal – the saga unfolds with layers of intrigue. The spectacle calls into question the capacity of Tafic to sustain their impressive run. The precedence set by Cote D’Ivoire’s astonishing turnaround at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a managerial upheaval offers a glimmer of unpredictability inherent in football, though juxtaposing club football dynamics with international fixtures holds its own set of complexities.
As Tafic grapples with the loss of one of Botswana’s most esteemed coaching figures, the overarching question looms: How will this episode influence their fortunes as the season wades into its critical junctures? With the BPL already witnessing a carousel of coaching departures, Tafic’s saga adds a compelling chapter to the unfolding narrative of a league characterized by flux and fervor. The departure of Makhwengwe not only marks a pivotal moment for Tafic but underscores the perennial dance between stability and upheaval in the quest for footballing glory.