Fani Makgalemele Day - Botswana Gazette

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Fani Makgalemele Day

BY DUNCAN KGANGKENNA
The date has long been set for the upcoming BFA elections to be held in Gaborone at Maharaja Conference hall. Unlike in the past the campaign has been tense with both camps promising their followers all goodies. Incumbency has been utilized more than ever this time around, the Makgalemele camp is using the time factor very well, signing new deals just before the election.
It will be a two horse race like in 2004, the incumbent BFA president Dikgang Phillip Makgalemele will be fighting with his arch rival David Fani who he defeated in 2004. Since the two are not new in football, delegates have been asked to exercise maturity when voting and should vote the leader who will develop football further.
Many football followers are convinced that the incumbent BFA leader had achieved a lot and need to be given another term in office to continue and develop football further.
They further argue that between the two aspiring presidential candidates, Makgalemele is the man who is energetic and still can do much better with his connections and knowledge to convince companies into partnering with BFA.
Unlike Fani, Makgalemele has managed to establish cordial relationship with other football associations. The working relationship between BFA and South African Football Association (SAFA) is a living example.
In the past Botswana has had sour relationship with SAFA.
Last week Friday the BFA president and SAFA president Molefi Oliphant signed a cooperation agreement between BFA and SAFA that will benefit the two associations. It is likely that BFA will be unveiling the under 17 sponsorship on Wednesday from a reputable company.
The sponsorship will be among many that the BFA NEC has managed to seal, since assuming office.
During his term Makgalemele and his committee have been working together and more positive results were coming through. The BFA for the first time managed to bring sponsorship of multi million pulas into football.
The two mobile companies, Mascom and Orange have poured millions of pula in to football. Mascom is the premier league sponsor and Orange is sponsoring the national team.
Makgalemele’s opponent, Fani is accused of only resurfacing towards the elections after going into football oblivision and a noticeable absentee in football matters.
The former BFA president puzzled many when he resurfaced and started accusing his predecessor for failing to develop football. Many had wanted to know what Fani did when he realized that Makgalemele was not doing something right.
Fani was voted out because it was said he is slow to act on crucial matters that end up tarnishing the good name of the association. “It is logical that when people are working towards the same cause, to develop football, the outgoing office bearer will advice the incoming one.”
Some football followers say Fani failed during his term in office. “He was given a chance and we were convinced that he will deliver but he proved us wrong, therefore he failed” explained a football fan.
“The current BFA NEC has managed to make football semi professional and with the current leadership there is still hope for better things to come. The current committee can present a sound policy documents to companies to lobby for sponsorship and it will be important for him to lead BFA beyond 2010.”
However the reason why some delegates will vote for Fani this weekend and things appear tricky is Makgalemele’s political standing. They are not sure if he wants to be a football person or a politician. But if he can convince people that he he is losing the BDP primaries on August 30 then he is favourate to win the BFA contest.

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