Tafic sporting club could be suffering from transitional syndrome as financial doldrums and administrative goofs dent the hype and buoyancy that dominated the City of Francistown when they were elevated to the elite league in May.

The catchphrase operation gwilila (come back) soon became associated with the club when it mounted its battle to return to the elite league and immediately changed chorus to galila tjose (stay-forever) after the club gained promotion.  However fast forward to now, the team finds itself fighting monetary battles, with players threatening to boycott games including the upcoming Independence Cup. Management however contained the situation and engaged them.

Some players have already left the club. Lucas Mothata, and Lovemore Morwira who did the better in the pre-season with the team have left, attacker Mbantshi Machongo who scored important goals en-route to BTC Premier League’s return, is reported to be on his way to Sowa Flamingoes. “Players are struggling financially and they can’t afford to attend daily training because they have not been paid their monthly allowances from July and they might end up giving up on the team they love,” a source from the team’s base at Leseding Grounds said.

The team has signed 13 players in the transfer window that closed yesterday. For registration to materialize die-hards had to come up with an initiative to raise funds for the team to register players with the premier league office before the window closed. The team according to sources needed at least P43, 000 to register and clear players. The resignation of team manager Carlos Motaung plunged the team into financial woes according to sources. “He was a manager in first division and the team never experienced any troubles and now it is grappling with chaos, he needs to come back.”  A source further added; “We have lost a partner with Wheels filling station owner because of Motaung’s resignation. The investor believed on him and when Carlos left the team the investor also pulled the plug out which piled woes.”

“Yes he knew people here and there and he did that to complement the whole committee. Those who helped did it for Tafic not for an individual. But Carlos is still around he also helped with money to register the players,” the team spokesperson Warrant Kololo said. While Motaung’s reason for resignation is primarily because of “business commitments”, sources say otherwise. “Tafic roped in Rapula (Gaothobogwe), who is also First Division North Secretary, to the team and he (Motaung) didn’t like it, that’s why he left. Remember the FDN committee was accused of pushing agenda in helping Tafic getting promotion but then when you rope in someone like that it validates the accusations and Motaung saw it fit to rescind his position,”  said a source.

“But Rapula applied for membership just like anyone and we recognized his capability and we gave him manager portfolio, it’s not wrong to do that it also happening in First Division South, secretary is also In Rollers committee,” said Kololo. Kololo said just like other teams they are cash strapped. “We are broke, we tried raising funds by playing tournaments but we can’t show any results. We have engaged the players and they are aware of our situation.” He further revealed that the general manager was in town to register the players with the premier league this week. The team is still looking for prospective partners to work with.