BFA politics enter Debswana boardrooms

Ahead of the highly anticipated Botswana Football Association (BFA) general elective assembly, the Deputy Managing Director of the Diamond mining giant, Debswana, Koolatotse Koolatotse has come out scathing to rebut allegations that he is seriously interfering in the football political space and with a clear intention to aid the toppling of the current football leadership of Maclean Letshwiti.

Sources from Lekidi headquarters have told this publication that, Koolatotse through his connections with companies contracted to the mine has been able to source financial support to aid the campaign of one of the aspiring presidential candidate, Oabile Tariq Babitseng.

“He is actively involved in the current football campaigns, he is funding Oabile Tariq Babitseng through some companies contracted to the mine, he is directly giving them business. He called some delegates to Jwaneng during the GM’s Fiesta Tournament and lectured them to ‘vote wisely’, we don’t know why he is doing such but that is not right,” a source within Lekidi expressed their qualms with the reported interest of Koolatotse.

When contacted, Koolatotse dismissed the accusations levelled against him but minced no words in calling out the current regime.

“When you are a leader you can’t avoid politics and what I can tell you for sure is that, when others are not doing things right I will voice my opinion. If that is politics then I don’t know, certain things have not gone right and I have made my comments clear. I told the BFA leadership that I am stepping out of football, am not interested in it because it has nothing at this present moment. People must accuse me of ‘capturing’ athletics and I’ll come out and declare it because that it is where all good things are happening,” Koolatotse responded.

Quizzed on his alleged support for former BFA’s Vice President, Tariq Babitseng, to take charge of the association's top seat, Koolatotse did not deny nor confirm the reports but highlighted that he is not trampling on any constitutional clause, in fact, he is exercising his freedom of choice.

'The burden of proof is with them, if they claim that there are companies I have directed to support Babitseng, they must come out and prove it. We can’t have leaders who resort to bullying and intimidation. How is my support or association with Nchingane and or Tariq out of order,” Koolatotse responded and further reasserted his right and independence.

“If I am supporting any party why is that a problem, I am not a delegate, I am not going to vote, I have in the past told Maclean Letshwiti, that I don’t like the way things are being done doesn’t mean I am into football politics. I have a constitutional right to support any aspiring candidate, I have a freedom of choice and association. I am not captured, I am independent,' he reasoned. 'Will it be ok if I was supporting the current regime? Who I support can’t be deemed a crime.

They also have people who support their campaign but Tariq and Masego Nchingane, are not confronting those individuals. What they should be doing is to support them. They should be asking me why I pulled out of football, I however remain a football fanatic.'

He further dismissed allegations suggesting that he had a meeting with some delegates and gave them a lecture to ‘vote wisely’. “Debswana is Debswana, Koolatotse is a Koolatotse, and we must differentiate the two. Debswana has a board that has proper governance structures, we are about integrity and respect. I have never influenced anyone to vote anyhow, I never summoned anyone to my space to lecture them on their choice to vote at the upcoming BFA elections. They are probably accusing me of what they practice and unfortunately I am not anything like what they think—for now I will forgive them, for now, because I am a football fan, I won’t open my mouth yet,” Koolatotse warned his critics.

The BFA elections are slated for the 14th of September 2024 and aspirants of designated positions are hard at work to convince delegates to trust them with the leadership roles, the tension however is fast gathering pace with accusations and counter accusations proving to be unrelenting.