- Matter before the BFA’s legal and compliance office
- BFA awaiting coach’s full report
- Players not taken out of camp, signed their deals at the team hotel – Sikwane
BONGANI MALUNGA
The Botswana Football Association looks set to charge agent and Gaborone United general manager Olebile Sikwane for what they believe was a breach of protocol when Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Kabelo Seakanyeng were signed by Chippa United while on national team camp. National team coach Major David Bright was reportedly unhappy with the players signing their deals without the team’s permission.
The matter is reportedly before the association’s Legal and Compliance office, they have been made aware of the case and they are currently waiting for the coach’s detailed account of events. The coach was said to have made comments about Sikwane, displaying his displeasure about the manner in which the transfers were completed while there was an ongoing tournament.
“We have not charged him, however, the national team coach was to submit a report to the legal and compliance office for them to make a determination on the case. We must be clear that we have noted recent media reports on the matter and we must warn that the national team is not a play field, it must be respected. Agents must be ethical and respectful to their duty,” said a BFA official in an interview with this publication.
Last week Sikwane informed Gazette Sport that he had actually informed Bright well in advance that the players were on the verge of signing their deals. Sikwane also maintained that the players were not whisked away from camp as many had suggested, he revealed that they signed their contracts at the national team’s hotel.
This week he confirmed that all is well between himself and Bright. He believes that the matter has been diffused after his talks with Bright. “I have spoken to Major Bright and we have since smoked a peace pipe. I have informed him of my position and stressed my support for him, and I apologized to him. I wish to move on. I am leaving the country to focus on other things unrelated to club management. If they have investigated the matter and gathered credible evidence to charge me I will have to face them. Remember they are the regulatory body,” Sikwane told this reporter.