Koko wants Rollers to pay more
Sport
Township Rollers player Sekhana Koko
Township Rollers long time player Sekhana Koko is in contract disputes with his employers over salary adjustment and the lockdown has led to him missing the team’s pre- season preparations in South Africa, WeekendSport has established.
According to leaked information, Koko has demanded that his salary be increased, more so because he is now serving the club on two separate roles. Rollers and Koko have agreed that he doubles as an infield player and also as a second assistant coach. While reports indicate that he is happy with his take-home salary as a player, there are other indications that he is not happy about his coaching rewards. Those in the thick of things say that Koko, whose days as a football player are numbered, wants a clear job description to ascertain that he will be well off.
Rollers are believed to be tip-toeing around Koko ‘s demands, meanwhile, reports suggest that the player might pen a deal with Gilport Lions, a club secretly building its new style and appeal in recruiting players with competitive wages. Sekhana Koko would not be drawn into discussing the matter with this publication, when asked to give his side of the story.
Koko has captained the Gaborone West based giants for two seasons after dumping Kgatleng giants for country wide glory. He has won two league titles with The Blues and one Mascom Top 8 trophy.
Last season alone, he started playing this dual role where new Coach, Mark Harrison benefited from his experience. Chicken as he is affectionately called by his legion of fans is known to be a hardnosed negotiator and might not give up on his ambition.
Koko’s worth to Mark Harrison’s team is obvious but the speedy jersey number 7 might also be feeling that it is unfair to hold somebody to the terms of his contract.
The situation is not yet explosive but it is believed to have gotten to Koko as it is threatening to turn ugly. He has had a glut muscle problem, which has restricted him mid-season, but it has somehow been a slight convenience as he has been in the right frame of mind to play.
On the other hand the team management is planning to meet soon to address the matter that has the potential to damage relations.
Bafana Pheto, the club media liaison acknowledged to this paper that all is not lost as they are still negotiating with Koko.
“We are still talking with the player as you might be aware that his contract has expired,’’ 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.