Deep inside Chiefs wars
Sport
A seven hectares plot situated at Ntshinoga ward in Mochudi that was given to Mochudi Centre Chiefs Limited Company by Kgatleng land board at the turn of the 21st century is the topmost reason the club’s society is battling a never ending war of identity, WeekendSport can reveal.
Contrary to popular belief, this publication has established, the two warring groups running Mochudi Centre Chiefs Sporting Club are not necessarily eyeing for the control of the club within the field of play, but are keen in taking full control of the club’s most important asset ―the piece of land. This publication’s investigations reveal that around the year 2000, the club society agreed to form a company by the name Mochudi Centre Chiefs Limited which then applied for a piece of land. The piece of land was duly awarded.
The company which was supposedly owned by the society indicated to Chiefs general membership that plans to build a stadium for the team were mooted. The company that was given title deed had the likes of Ray Molomo, current BFA President, Maclean Letshwiti and the late Lentswe Kgafela who was the royal leader of Bakgatla tribe as some of the leading directors.
It is alleged that along the way, the company slid into dormancy and intentions to develop the plot also were halted. Some directors, which this publication learns were 10 at the time of inception, slowly pulled out to take other commitments, still in sports. Sources claim that following the non- existence of the company, the faction famously led by one Tsieng Ramocha seized the opportunity to repossess the developmental documents for the club including the title deed.
Ramocha, when reached for comment said, “There is no truth in what you are saying, we are fighting for dignity of this club, but I will give proper information when the time is right.” It is further understood that when Chiefs registered a Trust during the years of 2015, they also re-applied for the plot but the Kgatleng land board dismissed them arguing that the plot is in the hands of the registered MCCL Company. The land board also issued a directive that developments at the plot be halted owing to disputes at the heart of the club.
When the long standing mouth piece of the club Clifford Mogomotsi was interviewed, he conceded that the reason the club is in court time and again is because of this land and many other related issues. “It is disheartening to see the club on free fall when it is supposed to be rich. There is no doubt we are fighting and this land is one reason why,” he admitted. It is not clear if the two warring factions are eyeing to wrestle the plot from Chiefs Limited Company, but what can be confirmed is that the title deed is now within the hands of Ramocha who is not ready to reconcile with the other faction.
There are growing fears that should the club continue to fight over the land, which has yet to be developed, the Kgatleng land board may repossess the plot. It is indicated that there are some long standing members who believe that Chiefs can never own a land within Ntshinoga area as long as they are alive. The claim is harboured by those who are of the view that since the club was established at Boseja ward, everything that belongs to the club should be in that area.
Concerned sources are of the hope that whoever wins the distressing war wins it for the Kgatleng giants. It is said that the club is eyeing to build a stadium within three hectares of plot and further partner with private companies to breathe a new life into the club. Should Chiefs lose the plot, it will be the third team in the elite league to fall down the drain when prosperity was within easy reach.
Motlakase Power Dynamos of Palapye, now playing at the First Division tier, saw their land repossessed by Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) after failing to develop it. Township Rollers also lost a plot at Selibe Phikwe at a time when the club was fighting for the control and ownership of the team.
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.