GABORONE, Botswana, June 03, 2021/ — The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has noted with concern the allegations in the Botswana Football Union (FUB) letter dated 28th May 2021. The BFA is disappointed to note that the Union has elected to engage the media on these allegations before presenting the findings of its commission of enquiry to the FA ahead of launching the 12-day campaign.
Had this been done, the BFA would have availed a platform to meet and hear the submission and ultimately carry out preliminary investigations on the claims that the Union has purportedly investigated.
It is the expectation of the FA that any ‘’unusual treatment’’ suffered by the players because of an employee of the FA be brought before the Association by those seeking redress on the matter. However, the Office of the CEO has no record of such.Considering how serious these allegations are, the FA’s preliminary inquiries find no merit in the allegations made and render the assertions as unfounded and untruthful.
From what the FA has gathered so far, the Senior Men National Team head coach has engaged with players in a professional manner.The Coaches Code of Ethics require coaches to have respect and promote a high standard of behaviour. Public criticism of players, the FA, sponsors, and all other stakeholders is unacceptable. As expected, in a normal game or training session, a player may be rebuked or charged at by the coach for a mistake or failure to follow an instruction, however the language used has not had any racist inferences, the FA is made to understand.
Segolame Bosija
As an Association, we expect the coaching staff, the players, and all relevant stakeholders to treat each other with mutual respect and treat one another in high regard.The FA has no knowledge of promises made to players for transfers to clubs outside the country by virtue of any relationship that the Coach may have with those clubs. Conversely, the FA is aware that players have been encouraged to work hard with the view of getting opportunities to play professionally in superior leagues. Selection of national team players remains merit based and there is nothing that suggests that the players that have been selected, were selected outside the mandate of the FA.
The remarks by BFA VP2 have been taken out of context. A word of encouragement by BFA VP2 for players to utilise the platform and opportunities they have to advance their careers should not be perceived differently. Any written agreement detailing the particulars of the Head Coach’s involvement in the three national team players’ recruitment and transfer to Morocco Botola 2 league club OCK should be availed to my office.
Zebras in previous AFCON qualifiers against Zimbabwe
BFA recognises the great potential for growth of Women Football in Botswana and for that reason, issues relating to women footballers are equally prioritised. The FA is available to partner with FUB in a campaign that can assist women footballers to professionalise.In recent times, BFA has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen dialogue and collaborate on key objectives shared. And, as part of the Unions objectives to defend the rights of professional footballers, the FA calls on the Union for cooperation and professional dialogue on matters of mutual interest.
The FA remains available to engage with the Union to hear the findings of the enquiry and agree a plan of action that can support and exchange ideas at a mutually convenient date and time.
