After being unceremoniously fired from the Botswana Football League (BFL) office, Bennett Mamelodi will be unveiled as the new Acting Chief Executive Officer this Friday (April 5th, 2024).
Voice Sport has it on good authority, that the former CEO will be taking over the reigns at the troubled local league.
The former BFL CEO was fired on allegations of fraud, theft, maladministration and criminal activity.
Not happy with his dismissal, the experienced administrator then challenged the findings of a Forensic Audit by the Botswana Football Association (BFA) which was done by a South African based audit firm ADM Financial Forensic Service.
Mamelodi lost the case at the Gaborone High Court, appealed it and lost it again with costs at the Court of Appeal.
Mamelodi’s lawyer at the time Dutch Leburu argued that his client is an accredited FIFA instructor and that such allegations of fraud and criminal activity may result in his accreditation being revoked.
The Court of Appeal then ruled that the fears he expressed are not founded since the forensic report was an internal document, which was not meant for public distribution.
The BFL high post became vacant last night after Senzo Mbatha’s contract was not renewed.
It is alleged that the new sponsor First National Bank was not happy with the South African football administrator’s history when they were doing their due diligence background check, and wanted someone they could trust with their finances.
Three years back when he was the consultant for Young Africans Club in Tanzania, Mbatha was allegedly arrested for match fixing and corruption charges.
His appointment by the BFL last year raised some eyebrows in football circles due to his tainted record.
When reached for comment, the BFL Board Chairman Nicholas Zakhem was cagey with the details, only revealing to Voice Sport that only two candidates have made it to the final selection for the post.
Zakhem said the selection will be finalized on Thursday (April 4th, 2024) and on Friday (April 5th, 2024), they will unveil the Acting CEO and the new Board Members.
“As you may be aware some of our board members resigned while others are on suspension so this Friday (April 5th, 2024), we will be unveiling the new members in a press conference,” said Zakhem.
Despite choosing to keep it under wraps, Voice Sport has been reliably informed the rerun of the ‘Diving Mamelodi is imminent.
“There’s no better person to take over our football at this time than him. He’s capable and shareholders are happy with his return,” our source said.