BFA match fixing scandal reaches CAF
Sport
The disturbing audio clip featuring two Botswana Football Association (BFA) officials – Monnakgotla Mojaki and Joshua Bondo in which they discussing allocation of match officials, a conversation that has provoked debate concerning the possibility of match-fixing in Botswana football. However the audio clip has now reached the Confederation of African Football, WeekendSport can reveal.
According to highly placed sources at Lekidi offices, this week on Wednesday, BFA secretariat received a letter from CAF in which they demanded the local football governing body to produce a comprehensive report over the alleged match fixing scandal – as communicated by the audio recording.
In addition, WeekendSport is reliably informed that Maclean Letshwiti’s administration has been given 14 days by the continental body to have submitted the report for their consideration. A close source also revealed to this publication that the matter reached CAF offices through the recent media reports.
Further to the letter received from CAF, Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) last week wrote to the BFA secretariat demanding a planned course of action with timelines as well as how the association intends to remedy and protect the game of football in the present and into the future. According to the letter from BNSC Chief Executive Officer, Tuelo Serufho, BFA was given 48 hours to have taken action on the matter.
Moreover, Serufho also revealed that they will intervene to save the image of the game if the BFA fails to commit itself to get to the bottom of the matter. Serufho also expressed concern that the alleged match fixing scandal could potential scare away current and future sponsors from football as it is evident Botswana Football League (BFL) is on the second season without title sponsors. In addition the BNSC is of the view that the shenanigans at BFA also compromise and dent the country’s chances of hosting the AFCON 2027.
Earlier last week the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture released a statement in which they condemned the audio recording and called on the BFA to get to the bottom of the allegations emanating from the audio. The Ministry further wants action taken against anybody who is found guilty of any form of miscount in the case.
Nevertheless, in the audio, the voices suspected to be that of Mojaki and referee, Bondo, are holding a discussion about allocating a favourable referee to influence the outcome of a match. An investigation carried out by this publication found out that, it was a game in which the defending champions, Gaborone United travelled to Jwaneng to face the log leaders, Jwaneng Galaxy.
After the final whistle, Gaborone United won by two goals to nil, to hand Galaxy their first defeat of the season. Furthermore, the now suspended referee Joshua Bondo was handling the title deciding encounter. Still in the audio, the name of Gaborone United financier, Zakhem is mentioned in the four-minute-long audio. The duo of Mojaki and Bondo have since been placed on a suspension by BFA.
In response to that, BFA has moved swiftly to appoint a three-man team who will probe allegations of match-fixing contained in the leaked audio clip. Although they didn’t disclose the names of the investigators, they promised it has integrity.
“We have appointed a three-man investigatory committee to probe and investigate the widely circulated audio clip attributed to the two BFA officials,” the BFA stated. “The committee is independent with varied experiences from football, legal and business sector, respectively. The committee is expected to deliver a preliminary report within 10 days,” the association added. Furthermore, the BFA reiterated that “football must always be played within the highest spirit of fairness and integrity underpinned by ethical conduct at all times.
When approached for a comment if they received a letter from Caf concerning match fixing allegations, BFA secretary general Mfolo Mfolo said he was not aware of the said written communication from Caf.
Botswana football is not alien to match-fixing scandals because in 2019, former BFA Secretary General Mooketsi Kgotlele was handed a lifelong ban from all football activities by world football governing body FIFA for what they termed as “accepting bribes in relation to the manipulation of international matches”. He was fined £40,876.71 (approximately P539 682).
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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.