- Rollers president’s name mentioned as a possible BPL chairman
- The appointment would violate BFA constitution
- Jagdish Shah not recognised as a chairman but a club president
- BPL to approach BFA for special consideration?
BONGANI MALUNGA
The Botswana Premier League Board of Governors is expected to elect a new chairman to replace Rapula Okaile by the end of the week. The board had a discussion this past weekend to map the way forward and they have chosen to make the new appointment as swift as possible according to sources.
Additional reports reaching this publication state that Township Rollers president Jagdish Shah was discussed and eventually recommended for the vacant chairmanship role this past weekend during the board meeting.
The meeting was held to give interested chairmen the chance to avail themselves for elections of the new BPL leadership, Gazette Sport has been informed that not many were forthcoming and as a result the prevailing name was that of Shah. Shah’s business acumen and impressive network skills could be key in the BPL’s drive for commercialization and eventual independence but his credentials fall short of the requirements of the BFA Constitution.
Unconfirmed reports stopped short of confirming Shah as the new BPL chairman but when reached for comment many within the BPL insist that no decision has been made in relation to naming Okaile’s successor.
Shah is not eligible for the BPL chairmanship role because he is not recognised as his club’s chairman, that honour is reserved for Walter Kgabung who is the current chairman of Popa. The Rollers president attended the weekend meeting on behalf of Kgabung who reportedly was not at the meeting.
The election of Shah would violate the BFA Constitution. Article 12.5.2 titled The Premier League Board which states that, “The Premier League Board shall consist of chairpersons of all Premier League clubs. Members of the Premier League shall appoint within themselves the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Treasurer.”
BPL Chief Executive Officer Thabo ‘Styles’ Ntshinogang confirmed that a meeting had taken place on Saturday but denied reports that a new BPL chairman had already been elected. “We will have a new chairman by the end of the week if all goes well. The Board will meet again to decide on the election of new leadership, there is nothing to share at the moment because nothing has been decided yet,” Ntshinogang told this reporter.
Ntshinogang acknowledged that Shah’s name was mentioned but stated that many others were suggested as well. Current BPL vice chairman Solomon Mantswe also denied that the BPL had already elected a new chairman when contacted by this publication.
The BPL will reportedly seek special consideration from the BFA for Shah to be elected or confirmed as the new chairman. For now it seems many have been sworn to secrecy while waiting for a response from the BFA.