Sebego seeks final term

The   incumbent Botswana Football Association (BFA) President Tebogo Sebego has unveiled the rest of his seven-man strong executive committee ahead of the crucial Annual General Assembly (AGA) this Saturday in Gaborone.

In what is supposed to be his final term, Sebego will face rivals Solomon Mantswe and Maclean Letshwiti in one of the most intriguing BFA presidential races in recent history. Addressing members of the press and other local football stakeholders at his launch in Old Naledi Township,in Gaborone, Sebego said there was still hope in local football and his executive committee has made strides in their last four years in office. 

“When we campaigned for the last elections our sales pitch was restructuring the BFA political landscape to divide our regions into four   blocks,” Sebego explained.  He said that each block was meant to have its own leadership and boasted that this end was initially achieved and soon   proved that the four blocks had advantages.

Sebego said this alteration of the BFA constitution saw the emergence of football teams in far-flung   parts of the country. “There was the likes of Sankoyo Bush Bucks from Maun and Black Rangers from Tsabong.” He said such teams got the chance to ascend to high-level league in the country. Sebego explained that they made further political changes when they formed a committee to run the affairs of women’s football, adding that women now have a crucial two votes at   the BFA AGA.

Throughout his four years in office, Sebego said they   vigorously drove football commercialisation, forming a company called Lekidi Investments, which was a conglomerate that included Lekidi ticketing and Lekidi travel. Sebego, who is facing his toughest rivals this Saturday, explained that the BFA had fundamental flaws, which no president could fix. “This year I am happy to announce that the BFA underwent restructuring which was approved by FIFA.” Sebego, a lawyer by profession, added that the association was in dire need of high calibre and competitive employees.

He said the troublesome Botswana Premier League (BPL) has grown by   over 200 percent despite its litany of problems. Sebego blamed the   nagging issues plaguing the BPL on political flaws. “The problem at the   BPL is not necessarily people but the structure.” However, Sebego said the league sponsor was staying onboard, adding that there was need to choose capable people within the organisation.

Sebego, who explained that he had already done most of his campaigning in regions across the country, said he has formed solid networks at FIFA, through which the country stands to benefit. Sebego’s cavalry ahead of the elections include, Basadi Akoonyatse (1st president), Tariq Babitseng (2nd President), Masego Nchingane (ordinary member), Olson Mantle (ordinary member), Abel Monnakgotla (ordinary member) and Suzie Montsho (ordinary member).