Jamali, Zakhem talk Magosi transformation
Sport
Construction tycoon Sayed Jamali is believed to have held negotiations with former partners Mochudi Centre Chiefs about possibilities of him returning to the team as an investor, a move believed would rouse the ailing Chiefs from its deep slumber.
It is said consultations have been ongoing for some time now and Jamali’s sons were seen and photographed last week at the national stadium wearing Centre Chiefs regalia, at the Chiefs/ Rollers encounter. Jamali whom reports once speculated had returned to football with BDF XI, denied information linking him with Chiefs saying, “Football has no business.” It is believed that the BFA president MacLean Letshwiti is also playing an advisory role that is anticipated to see the multi-millionaire back at the helm of the fallen Bakgatla giants
Interestingly; another construction mogul, Nicholas Zakhem has his sights on the Centre Chiefs opportunity. Reports indicate that he might lend a helping hand at the shrinking Kgatleng outfit. Zakhem is a former Gaborone United (GU) investor but the two parties have since gone their separate ways. The last 3 seasons have been rocky for Zakhem and GU as a tug of war between the team and investor ensued.
In Zakhem’s case, Centre Chiefs will be the second team to be linked to him. Initially, it was Notwane, who are now on the verge of promotion to the elite league that was associated with the mogul. Negotiations with Zakhem are believed have been hatched at time he was entertaining a second thought about returning to GU. It is said the Lebanon born millionaire loves The Reds wholeheartedly but tensions at the heart of the team have seen kept him from crossing that bridge back. Zakhem came to GU in 2009, just a year after the club won the championship title.
But Zakhem, who was also captured in the company of BFA president last week is said to be eager to return to football, and questions arose as to whether the Letswiti would play a convincing role on Zakhem’s part. During Jamali’s era with Magosi, the club was marvelous to watch. The team won back to back premier league championship in 2012 and 2013. He was, and still is the only available investor who can match the ballooning purse of Jagdish Shah who is with crowd pulling Township Rollers.
Ever since the widely reported fall out between Magosi and Jamali; the Kgatleng outfit has been nothing but a shadow its former self. The team has struggled to pay competitive salary wages, and all the good players left them for greener pastures. After so many years, the team this season is battling to survive relegation. It is said that Chiefs management knows all too well that they have to put their house in order if prospects of attracting new investors are to be kept alive.
However, when reached for clarity, Chiefs media liaison Clifford Mogomotsi dismissed the allegations as corridor talk. He said he too, had heard the rumours linking the club to various investors. He however urged that such should be treated only as speculation. He acknowledges that Chiefs has an appeal to draw investors but has said it is important to focus on keeping Chiefs’ house in order.
“We are a big club, and we have heard people first linking us to a bank, and secondly to individuals with money, but there is nothing concrete I can share with you because really we have not shared a table with anybody,” he said.
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.