It is worth noting that with 10 games left, there is a high chance of ending the season on a positive note. “Mind you, with the BFA’s decision TAFIC is relegating with 18 points and what is worth noting is that the three teams above us also have the same points. – Sebina
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
Relegated TAFIC Football Club intends to challenge the decision by the local football governing body, Botswana Football Association (BFA) to end the 2019/2020 football season.
After being interrupted midway and halted for three months due to outbreak of COVID-19, over the weekend the BFA take decision to end the football season. In their press release the local governing body states, “Having considered the prevailing the circumstances in Botswana the guidelines provided by BFA medical committee as well as financial resources needed to return to play, the National Executive Committee unanimously agreed to end the football season. In ending the season, the effect is that the team at the summit is crowned champions and the ones at the bottom of the table are relegated”
To this regard TAFIC Chairman Carlos Sebina says they are not impressed by the decision taken by the BFA more so that there was no consultation. Hence their decision to challenge the BFA resolution.
In an interview with Gazette Sport, the TAFIC Chairman said that they will challenge BFA decision because the committee disregarded the consultation of critical stakeholders being the football teams. Sebina said it is worth noting that with 10 games left, there is a high chance of ending the season on a positive note. “Mind you, with the BFA’s decision TAFIC is relegating with 18 points and what is worth noting is that the three teams above us also have the same points. This means that with these 10 games that are not played, there is a high possibility that we could have accumulated more points and improved our position in the log standings. Our contention should not be perceived as if we are fighting BFA. We have the interests of football and that is why we will only challenge the decision within BFA internal structures,” Sebina revealed in an interview.
Further Sebina said the BFA’s decision has the potential to push sponsors away therefore there is a need for thorough engagement about the issue. Sebina’s conviction is that BFA executive committee could have engaged all the team’s representatives before taking the decision.
Contrary to claims of lack of consultation BFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mfolo Mfolo said that every team was consulted with correspondences before the decision was taken. “We consulted all our members, it is only that any decision taken will not favour everyone. So that is why some teams are complaining,” Mfolo told Gazette Sport in an interview.