Maclean Letshwiti Re-Elected Botswana FA President

MacLean Letshwiti was on Saturday re-elected for a second four-year term as the president of Botswana Football Association (BFA).

In the first round of the vote, Letshwiti garnered 32 votes while his predecessor Tebogo Sebego garnered 28 votes which were however insufficient for a two-thirds majority required for a winner to be declared.

In the run-off, Letshwiti gained one more vote that increased his tally to 33 against Sebego’s 27, giving him just enough votes to defend his seat.

Sebego, the immediate past president of the BFA, was expected to provide the stiffest opposition to Letshwiti’s ambition of becoming the first man to win and serve a second term as BFA president in recent years.

In the end, it was even close. Letshwiti’s message of continuity and a self-sustaining football federation resonated with the BFA Congress.

Acknowledging the division which has torn the country’s football apart, Letshwiti immediately promised reform and reconciliation.

“This is just voluntarism, there is no money the way we fight, the way we compete, it is as if there is a prize. But the prize is slavery because you are going to be a slave, you are going to work and the only thing you get are insults,” Letshwiti said in his acceptance speech.

“But still people are committed to giving free service to football. I wish to embrace Mr Sebego and Mr Malesu for their patience and contribution towards sports.

“This is an important win for football today, we’ll be reflecting and encourage all of you not to stay away. Let’s work together for football. This is one country Botswana.”

In other results, 1st Vice president Pelotshweu Motlogelwa retained his position after beating Maokaneng Bontshetse by a single vote while Ngele managed a paltry 2 votes.

In the 2nd Vice President race, Masego Nchingane beat Senki Sesinyi by three votes to retain his seat in the BFA national executive committee.

The new Botswana FA executive committee will be in office for a term that runs until 2024.