Eric Ookame, a forward for the Zebras senior national football team, was deported from Egypt back to Botswana after immigration authorities reportedly discovered that he was traveling on a fraudulent visa. Ookame was in transit to Morocco, where he plays for Mouloudia Club Oujda FC, intending to rejoin his club after fulfilling his national team duties.
This publication can exclusively reveal that the incident occurred on April 3, highlighting a complex situation involving travel documentation and administrative responsibilities.
Bathusi Rathari, a member of the Botswana Football Association (BFA) National Executive Committee and chairperson of the Finance and Marketing Committee, provided important clarifications regarding the circumstances. Rathari explained that the BFA’s involvement was limited strictly to arranging the player’s flight ticket following his national team commitments. “The association only facilitated his flight tickets. The visa application was handled either by his club or his travel agent,” Rathari emphasized, underscoring that the responsibility for securing proper travel documents did not lie with the BFA.
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The 25-year-old striker, who previously played for clubs such as Eleven Angels and Orapa United in Botswana, had recently been an active participant with the Zebras squad during the latest FIFA international window. Botswana had competed in the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament, which was held at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on March 28 and 31. Ookame’s performances during the tournament had been closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as he is considered a key player for both his national and club teams.
After the conclusion of the tournament, Ookame was scheduled to leave Botswana and return to his parent club in Morocco. His travel route included a stopover in Egypt, where Egyptian immigration officials scrutinized his visa documentation. It was at this point that officials reportedly discovered irregularities, leading them to conclude that the visa was fraudulent. This discovery prompted immediate action, resulting in Ookame’s deportation back to Botswana.
Bathusi Rathari further revealed details about the aftermath of the visa issue. Once the problem was uncovered, Ookame was sent back to Botswana on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, which came at an additional cost of P7,000. The airline reportedly retained possession of the player’s passport until this outstanding fee was settled, adding another layer of complication to the situation.
The incident has since escalated into a broader administrative dispute involving multiple parties. Upon his return to Botswana, Ookame reportedly contacted a BFA official who helped arrange temporary accommodation for him at a hotel commonly used by the national team during their training camps. According to sources, the player stayed at the hotel for seven days without formal payment authorization before checking out on April 10. During this period, efforts were ongoing to secure valid travel documents that would allow him to return to Morocco and resume his professional career.
Attempts were made to have the Botswana Football Association cover the accommodation expenses, but the association’s finance department reportedly declined the request. Their refusal was based on the lack of prior approval for the stay and the absence of any formal record indicating that the BFA had authorized or agreed to cover these costs. This financial disagreement has only added to the challenges Ookame faces as he remains stranded in Botswana.
The situation has left Ookame in a state of uncertainty for nearly three weeks, with questions looming over his immediate club future and professional commitments. His inability to travel back to Morocco not only disrupts his career momentum but also affects his contractual obligations with Mouloudia Club Oujda FC. With time running out, Ookame’s agent has taken the matter directly to the highest levels of the Botswana Football Association, approaching BFA president Tariq Babitseng to seek urgent intervention. The primary goal is to recover the player’s passport from the airline and resolve the stalemate preventing his departure.
In an interview with WeekendSport, BFA president Tariq Babitseng outlined the association’s established procedures for managing foreign-based players who are called up for national team duty. Babitseng explained that the association formally communicates with the player’s parent club, requesting the player’s release for either training camp or competition and specifying the relevant dates involved. Once the club grants this release, the BFA takes responsibility for arranging travel tickets and player allowances to facilitate the player’s participation.
However, Babitseng was clear to state that visa processing and securing proper travel documentation remain the responsibility of the player’s representatives or the parent club. This division of duties, he explained, is well-known and consistently applied. The same process is followed for domestic-based players, with the BFA’s role confined to handling national team logistics such as travel arrangements and allowances, rather than managing personal travel documents like visas or passports.
This incident involving Eric Ookame has brought to light the complexities that can arise when multiple parties share responsibility for different aspects of a player’s travel and documentation. It underscores the importance of clear communication and coordination among clubs, players, agents, and national associations to avoid such disruptions. For Ookame, the hope now hinges on swift resolution so he can return to his club duties in Morocco and continue his professional development without further setbacks.
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