Sexual harassment rocks BFA
Botswana Football Association (BFA) have this week been rocked by allegations of ill treatment and sexual harassment of some players by some well-placed officials in the books of the association, BG Sport has established.
The association, according to an inside informant, called for an emergency gathering comprising of at least five (5) National Executive Committee members, the BFA President and his 1st and 2nd Vice President, an additional member and the Botswana Football League chairman, who met to engage on the said allegations and have since reached a consensus to suspend the perpetrator with immediate effect, pending the investigations.
The matter came to light during the recent national under 18 young ladies team camp after the victim reportedly attempted suicide by overdosing on some pills, with at least over 20 consumed, according to information gathered by this publication. As the matter proved to weigh heavily, a BFA official reportedly rushed the survivor to the hospital after she collapsed.
Further reports suggest that, psychiatrist and other social workers were later brought through to the association and engaged with peers and teammates who were already aware of what transpired.
Contacted, the BFA Chief Executive declined to make a comment on the matter stating that the BFA’s NEC meeting is yet to convene, a gathering that is expected to make a ruling on any case presented but he would not be drawn into discussing whether there are reports concerning issues of harassment at Lekidi. The association however, less than three hours, later released a communication notifying the public about the suspension of Double Action chairman Senki Sesinyi.
“Botswana Football Association has suspended Double Action chairperson Mr Senki Sesinyi from all football activities related matters pending investigations following allegations of sexual harassment made against him.
The decision taken by BFA to suspend Sesinyi was not taken lightly. The decision follows formal interviews conducted on BFA officers by the Botswana Police services on the matter as part of police investigations” the BFA statement read.
Reliable sources have told this publication that the case has been registered at the Gaborone Central Police and investigations are ongoing, a resolution to suspend the accused was taken at the earlier mentioned emergency NEC meeting.
“The accused, name known by this publication, has confessed to the police, but denied rape allegations and said it was only a massage; there are messages as evidence on this matter. The president, Maclean Letshwiti and the 1st Vice President, Masego Nchingane were furious and called for his immediate suspension. The meeting was held on Tuesday last week and the guy was served with a suspension last week Friday,” an inside source revealed.
The informant further said the case is likely to open a can of worms with some coaches in the technical department of some local women football clubs also reportedly being investigated and suspensions are on the cards.
On Wednesday, Sport Management Agency (SMA) directors organized a three days Safe Guarding in Sport athlete summit themed, ‘my rights, my worth’ intended to raise awareness on the issues of harassment and safety of players.
SMA Director, Game Mothibi has strongly called out National Sport Associations (NSA’s) to take a leading role in an effort to deter harassment, condemn in the strongest possible way acts of harassment and take necessary steps against the perpetrators.
“My take on the current safeguarding issue in football and how it is unfolding is a clear indication that BFA lacks structures to ensure safety of athletes. The athlete was violated, and she found refuge in the team mates, and when the issues reached officials, they all wanted to bury it for the protection of the association's image, and the perpetrator at the expense of the athlete,” Mothibi told BG Sport. She added: “BFA failed the athlete, particularly because they have a safeguarding officer to advise them and also have FIFA safeguarding manuals to assist them to make interventions. Of course, the athlete's name and identity should be protected but the issue should definitely come out, be addressed. The BFA and all involved must be condemned for their lack of support for the athlete who was violated and for not acting on the matter.”
Mothibi, a strong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality further recommended that, leaders in sport who treat harassment cases with less interest and respect they deserve must be taken to account for their incompetence to exercise their powers.
“It is high time leaders of sport are taken to account for such poor practices, it is high time action is taken against perpetrators, it is high time to protect athletes and make sport safe for them. Not doing anything about the said allegations will render sport unsafe and we will continue to lose girls and women from sport. We call upon Botswana National Olympic Committee and Botswana National Sport Commission to hold BFA accountable on this matter and action be taken and justice be served,” she concluded.