Sikwane tipped to replace Serufho

BG Sport has been reliably informed of several candidates who have been earmarked by the commission’s echelons of power with some familiar names from within the local sport being mentioned.

According to close sources at BNSC, former Botswana Football Association (BFA) Head of Competitions and Operations, Olebile Sikwane has been earmarked for the now vacant post.

The veteran football administrator however faces a strong challenge from Diamond Trading Company Botswana’s (DTCB) Corporate Affairs Manager, Macdonald Motsele who holds wealth of experience on issues of corporate governance.

Motsele's acumen on matters of strategic leadership came to the fore at DTC Botswana, for driving and shaping up the mining company’s Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Social Performance and Stakeholder Management interests.

BG Sport informants also highlighted that, at least two local female administrators were mentioned when the shortlisting of the candidates began in the early stages of the process but they both could not make the cut as the final decision draws closer.

It is also worth noting that the position of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the local sport governing mother-body, is a subject of keen interest to the Minister of Sport & Arts, Jacob Kelebeng, who has the final say on the appointment after consultations with the BNSC board.

Back in 2014, parliament passed a bill proposed by the then Minister of Sports, Shaw Kgathi which bestowed the minister with powers to appoint the BNSC board and the CEO.

During an interview with BG Sport, Chairperson of BNSC, Marumo Morule could not be drawn into discussing potential replacements of Serufho but he confirmed that the recruitment processes to fill the post have already commenced.

“We will be starting the recruitment process, before the end of this week we should have put up adverts for the position of CEO,” he revealed.

Morule also confirmed that the Minister of Sport & Arts will play a crucial role on who will be appointed the next CEO of the commission.

“Both the BNSC board and the CEO are appointed by the Minister; the only exception is that, with the board he doesn’t have to consult with anyone whereas with the CEO, it is clearly the Minister in consultation with the board.

There is no way the Minister can be detached from having a say when appointing the CEO and when you talk of the Minister you talk government because the minister is a member of the cabinet which forms the government. So we are cognizant of the fact that the job advert means we are following the right procedures but the final appointment will be made by the minister in consultation with the board,” Morule highlighted.

Sikwane’s long standing relations with several members of the current UDC led government are well documented, the speaker of the Parliament, Dithapelo Keorapetse, is also a childhood friend from Selibe Phikwe. If politics ticks the loyalty box, the former Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United general manager is expected to land the post having narrowly missed out on becoming the Botswana National Olympic Committee CEO last year.

“He actually could have been appointed as early as December 2024, the reason why he terminated his contract in Tanzania is because he was earmarked for this BNSC CEO post. There has been many recommendations made to the Minister by several individuals of the current regime but we’ll see how it all pens out. Macdonald is purely appreciated for his expertise when it comes to issues of corporate governance, that is his play ground and he has done well at DTCB, it’ll be interesting to see who the Minister will choose,” a source close to the events offered an insight.

Morule highlighted that the appointment of the next BNSC CEO should be treated as “an urgent matter” and should be completed before the end of July as the position is crucial for the operations of the commission.