BFA blunders

GABORONE - The embattled Botswana Football Association (BFA) is once again under fire.
At the centre of the storm is the registration of BDF XIs Zambian striker Bernard Simakwezi.
In its Wednesday ruling, the National Appeals Board (NAB) slated the football governing body for acting unlawfully in barring the BDF XI marksman from playing in a Coca Cola Cup semi-final clash against Township Rollers.
Rollers had complained that Simakwezis registration was irregular and the BFA ruled that he should not play.
BDF XI, who lost the encounter 3-0, then took the matter up with the NAB, which ordered a replay that was to take place Thursday night.
The winners meet Notwane in the finals tomorrow.
However, at the time of writing the story Rollers had threatened not to honour the game.
In their appeal, BDF were adamant that they signed the player procedurally as a free agent from a Malaysian team.
They said the player had no links with Zambias Lusaka Dynamos, as alleged. The NAB said the BFA should have allowed BDF XI to use the player in the game while investigations continued.
BFA has also been assigned to investigate the matter further to determine the status of the player.
Meanwhile, the controversial manner in which the BFA handled the case has attracted condemnation from some football pundits who accuse the association of acting arbitrarily and bringing the game into disrepute especially that its decision was not informed by any rule.
One football official in Francistown said some people in the BFA executive were there to advance their clubs interests at the expense of the nation.
He said in an interview that, the same BFA told BMC in no uncertain terms that there was no case against Simakwezis team.
He said the manner in which BFA handled the case was clear testimony that some people had a vested interest in the outcome of the match against Rollers.
BMC, Boteti Young Fighters and Ramotswa Killer Giants all lost to BDF XI in games that the player featured in during the Coke Cup campaign. However, the player was barred when Rollers was involved.
Another football official also called for all those involved to resign on the grounds that they acted unprofessionally.
This development comes on the heels of the altercation between the football governing body and some key national team players.
Some players have refused to turn up for the Zebras because of poor allowances. BFA is also accused of failure to prepare well for the Zebras trip to Mauritania for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Sparrows.
Players travelled to Noutchoutt in two batches because they could not be accommodated on one flight.
As such the team arrived late and had little warm-up time before the game, which they consequently lost 4-0. BOPA

Source: Daily News