More trouble for GU as relegation beckons
Sport
The world football governing body, FIFA has now imposed a heavy penalty fee on Gaborone United (GU) for infringing article 64 of the Disciplinary Codes in failing to comply with the decision to pay player, Bismarck Appiah.
The Ghanaian’s contract was terminated in January 2016 but upon receiving a complaint, FIFA ordered that the player be paid a total of P 400 000 as compensation for breaching his contract and additional 5% interest to be calculated in accordance with the said decision.
FIFA has therefore ordered GU to pay a fine to the amount of CHF 5,000 (P51 449.13) within 30 days. The deadline also requires GU to pay Appiah USD 39,500 (P 400 000). In essence GU has to pay a total of P 450 000 including 5% interest before August 26th.
If the team fails to pay the said amount together with interest, points will be deducted automatically by the BFA without a formal decision having to be taken nor any order to be issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee or its secretariat. FIFA also indicates that should GU fail to pay the amount even after deduction of points; the team will be relegated to the lower division.
Part of the letter reads, “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee, upon request of the player, will decide on a possible relegation of the club’s first team to the next lower division.” The world’s football body also warns BFA to reinforce this decision on its member club to ensure justice is finally achieved. FIFA says if BFA fails to comply with the decision, a stern action will be taken which can lead to expulsion from FIFA competitions.
GU is currently a club torn apart by internal wars. It is indicated that the elders of the club, who are now at the helm, were banking on the money that the club has acquired after selling two players to South Africa’s Chippa United. The club in June sold Kabelo Seakanyeng together with Thatayaone Kgamanyane. WeekendSport can authoritatively reveal that the players were sold at the cost of P 1.2 million.
Sources further indicate that the decision makers at the heart of GU have now reached a dead end upon realization that Chippa United’s money will come in installments. It is said that the first batch will be deposited before the league commences. It is said that Chippa United and the GU agent agreed that P 200 000 be paid after registration is finally completed.
The second installment, which is P 500 000 is expected to be deposited in December while the last P 500 000 will be completed in June of next year. GU is also required to bear the costs of the case. FIFA says,” The costs of these proceedings amounting to CHF 1,000 (P10 289.83) are to be borne by the Debtor and shall be paid according to the modalities stipulated above.
Sport
It’s do or die for Zebras
The senior national team, the Zebras, is currently in Equatorial Guinea to for an African Cup of Nations Qualifiers tie. Before they departed, the team’s coach, Mogomotsi Mpote, had his troops train in Morocco. This was through the agreement between the two countries.
The agreement between the BFA and the Fédération Moroccan Football Association states that the two nations will work together to organize friendly matches between their respective national teams. It also allows the establishment of football camps for the youth categories (U-15, U-17, and U-20), this includes women’s national teams.
The national team has played over 180 minutes in its two qualifying matches against Tunisia and Libya. Currently, the Zebras, Lesotho and Liberia are the only teams that haven’t scored yet in the competition (this is correct by press time on Friday).
Before the match against Equatorial Guinea match, the local boys who were once known as the whipping boys of Africa in the early 2000s, were languishing at the bottom of the log standings in group J. They lost their first match away to Libya on June 1, 2022. However, they managed to salvage a point against Tunisia last year.
Before the team left for Equatorial Guinea, coach Mpote urged his players to focus on keeping their hopes of making a return trip to the AFCON finals alive after an 11 year absence since the maiden appearance in 2012. He noted that they would not allow their opponents to score and would ensure that they would get a draw.
Despite the various changes that have occurred in the two countries’ football landscape, the two teams have only met once before. In 2010, the local boys defeated the Equatorial Guinea team in a friendly match, which ended in an emphatic win for the visitors. Since then, the two sides have realised different fortunes in FIFA rankings, with Equatorial Guinea ranked 51 places above the Zebras.
Meanwhile, in their last six games, Guinea has only managed to win one of them. They drew with Rwanda and Togo in September 2022 friendlies. They have found the back of the net just twice in their six games. On the other hand, the Zebras, won one match against Zambia and lost four on their way to finishing at the bottom of the group with four points. At the conclusion of their previous AFCON campaign, the local boys traveled to Zambia and secured a draw.
MPOTE CONFIDENT
Despite the recent results of the Guinean team, which have only managed to draw with Rwanda and Togo in their last six matches, coach Mpote is still confident that his team will perform well against the hosts.
According to the head coach, the local boys have the necessary skills and resources to perform well against any country. He noted that the team’s coaches have been studying abroad to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects of football.
“Tactically they should also be ready. We need your (Botswana fans) usual support, when we come back from Equatorial Guinea, we will go to Francistown, and we will need you. You are our 12th player, and you are very important to us.”
OBED ITANI CHILUME STADIUM CERTIFIED
This week, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) Tuelo Serufho revealed that the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium will host the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the local boys and Equatorial Guinea. The venue had initially failed an inspection test conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, following the completion of the necessary works, the stadium was allowed to host the match.
According to BNSC Chief, Tuelo Serufho, the various requirements that the stadium must meet included having a designated parking area for the media and spectators, as well as having signage that will guide the spectators. He also noted that the venue now has a world-class media area.
Sport
Jagdish Shah rejects Rollers society
Township Rollers, one of the country’s most decorated football clubs with 15 premier league titles, is finding itself in a precarious situation as its long-term chief financier, Jagdish Shah, threatens to dump them if the society does not bow down to his demand of forfeiting their 20 percent interest in the company.
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Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.