What is the BFA’s position on the Thabo Mapunda issue?

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has written to Matebele FC asking them to release Thabo Mapunda to Gaborone United. The letter, titled “Gaborone United vs Matebele FC” and dated August 12, 2024, is the second letter the association has written to Matebele on the matter. The BFA wrote the first letter in May asking Matebele to release the player.^day This month, August 2024.

In the first letter, the association informed Matebele that it had “received a complaint from Gaborone United Football Club against you”. “The specific content of the complaint is that your club claims to have registered a person called Thabo Mapunda as a player.”

“Please note that Mr Maponda has signed an agreement with Gaborone United Football Club to^{English Stone} July 2024. However, the Association has been informed that your club has refused or neglected to provide all the information necessary to effect the transfer of the player,” the first letter reads.

“Accordingly, you are required to remove your contempt and provide Gaborone United with the necessary documentation within forty-eight hours of receipt of this letter. Furthermore, you are required to immediately cease allowing the player to train with you,” the association ordered.

Despite the warnings, Matebele appeared to have taken no action, leading to another letter from the BFA last Monday. In the confusing letter, the association confirmed that “Thabo Maponda has signed a contract with Matebele Football Club, with the contract dated April 23, 2017.^day August 2023 and expires on May 31, 2024. It goes on to state the facts, “On February 1, 2024, Thabo Mapunda signed a contract extension with Matebele Football Club for the period from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2026.”

It also goes on to state the facts: “Thab Mapunda signed a pre-contract with Gaborone United on 17 May 2024 and then signed a contract with Gaborone United on 1 July 2024 for the period from 1 July 2024 to 31 May 2027.”

The association then pointed out that Maponda received a signing fee of P50,000 from GU and received a monthly salary “as per the contract signed with GU.”

The BFA has ordered Matebele to release the player despite the confusing letter stating that the player has two contracts. “Based on the above, we reiterate in this letter that Thabo Maponda is a player of Gaborone United Football Club and Gaborone United Football Club must have the right to register the player.”

The Pakistan Football Association has demanded that: “Thab Mapunda must report to Gaborone United Football Club within twenty-four (24) hours from the date of receipt of this letter in order to be able to register with the team.”

Both letters have drawn ridicule towards the FA Secretariat, with many questioning its power to decide on the status of players. It is now believed that the FA Secretariat has overstepped its authority and shot itself in the foot.

Commenting on the matter, an administrator said that since the matter affects the status of the players, it should be referred to the Players Status Committee (PSC) for resolution. The administrator said that as things stand, the association will be seen as siding with GU on the matter.

“The BFA CEO must have just informed the GU that he had received their complaint and referred the matter to the relevant body for resolution. That must be the process. These people no longer have a conscience. They are unscrupulously doing everything to support Gaborone United,” the administrator said.