26 Feb 2025

In the midst of the hype of the new-look Botswana Football League (BFL), an ominous impediment lurks in the background, notwithstanding the renewed vigor and excitement that has seen people return to various stadia in large numbers.
Lately, instead of people enjoying the flair displayed by players, spectators are more concerned about the decisions of referees.
Some football pundits are of the view that even though the BFL chief executive officer, Bennet Mamelodi, can downplay the underperformance of referees, questions will always arise with increased regularity about the men and women in pink, lime and black, about their competence to officiate at the elite level.
New and little known referees have found their way into the National Referees Commission fixtures week in and week out.
The Botswana Football Association referees manager, Jonti Rasetsoga, has previously conceded in one of the interviews that they were aware of isolated cases, which had the potential to taint the name of the referees.
However, Mamelodi has confirmed that there is a faction, which intends to manipulate matches, which he intends to root out.
Whilst Mamelodi agonises over ridding the elite league of this problem, the BFL clubs have to contend with contentious decisions on any given match day,, which have dire implications for their fair participation in the spirit of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Mamelodi said they had a constructive and cordial meeting with the National Referees Commission (NRC), and discussed all relevant issues, with a view to ensure optimal performance. ENDS