Rollers turn tables on Chiefs
Sport
Chiefs filed an application that Rollers had registered Ofentse Nato in the process exceeding the required number of players
Pretenders to be-MOBILE premiership throne, Township Rollers is said to have filed supporting new evidence against rivals Mochudi Center Chiefs in a case where the Kgatleng giants want Rollers to be thrown out of the Mascom top 8 competition for exceeding the quota of registered players.
According to sources that spoke with Weekend Sport on conditions of anonymity, Rollers has submitted new evidence that Mochudi Center Chiefs is still registered as a society and they lied when they submitted that they were controlled by a board of trustees.
The two blood rivals are engaged in a bitter battle following their two-legged encounter in the top 8 tournament. Chiefs filed an application that Rollers had registered both Ofentse Nato and Terrence Mandaza-in the process exceeding the required number of players. The competition rules stipulate that any participating team should register a total of 28 players where five of them should be under the age of 23.
According to Chiefs submissions, Rollers has literally broken the rules and, and as an appropriate measure, should be thrown out of the competition. Both Mandaza and Nato have played in the competition against Chiefs. Rollers all in all humbled their rivals by a goal aggregate of 5-1.
The case has been argued before the premier league disciplinary committee and judgement has yet to be delivered. However, Township Rollers has since come in with new evidence questioning the affiliation of Chiefs to Botswana Football Association (BFA).
According to informants, Rollers has stumbled upon information to the effect that Center Chiefs is running as a society and not a trust. This is contrary to information posed before the committee that Chiefs is a trust. The club, during the hearing was represented by Raymond Tsheko, the chairman‘s trust and team media liaison Clifford Mogomotsi.
Rollers’ new evidence suggests that Center Chiefs have no locus standi or authority to argue before the tribunal. Sources inside Center Chiefs acknowledged having received Rollers’ letter but would not divulge as to whether they are a society, or a trust is administering the team’s affairs.
When reached for comment, Chiefs media liaison, Mogomotsi, said, ‘‘Rollers is clutching at straws, they do not want to dwell on the merits of the case, we too, do not know whether they are Township Holdings or Township Rollers Football Club.’’
Efforts to reach Rollers’ communication desk proved futile as their spokesperson’s phone rang without an answer. Whether Rollers’ new arguments will have an ultimate bearing into the case is yet to be seen. The club is still perched at the summit of the league standings with 57 points, two points ahead of nearest competitors Orapa United. The two teams, should Rollers escape the case freely, will meet at the Mascom top 8 final.
Sport
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Sport
AFRICA’S RECOVERY: Sports as game changer
The year 2022 witnessed unprecedented phenomena. Several Africans- Gotytom Gebreslase, Sharon Lokedi, Victor Kiplangat, Tamarit Tola and many others- swept the World’s marathons records.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting control measures implemented in several countries, led to many high-level sports competitions being cancelled or shelved, the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games was moved to 2026.
Founder and Executive Chairman, African Sports and Creative Institute, Will Mabiakop, says the inability to hold traditional and amateur sports events have had a serious effect on public health overall, including mental health, sparking a revolution whereby athletes began to talk more openly about stress, mental overload and performance anxiety.
“Africa is home to the fastest growing economies before the crisis, no longer on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 deepened interdependence between SDGs, making them harder to achieve, especially SDG 10 (reducing inequality) and SDG 5 (gender equality_ as the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on poorer countries, and heavier burdens (such as care work) fell to women.”
Mabiakop stresses that as policymakers contemplate actions to speed up recovery and build resilience, they must argue that sports and creative businesses should play a central feature in this effort.
“The sports economy worldwide is estimated at 5% of GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa. If exploited, Africa’s sports and creative industries can offer policymakers innovative solutions. Especially, as regards job creation, and providing employment to the 15 million people entering the job market annually.”
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY DO THIS?
By leveraging the two-for-one concept: past studies shown that a 1% growth in the economy delivers a 2% job increment in this sector (these ratios are calculated using data from 48 African countries and adjusted to the reality of the sports economy in Africa by the authors). There are between 30 and 50 job types, in sports and creative industries, respectively. These jobs do not fade away with the first major shock.
Mabiakop indicated that policymakers can use these industries to tackle multiple crises- jobs, poverty, and climate risks. Sports diplomacy- defined as communication, representation and negotiation in or through the prism of sports- has proven effective in building inclusive and cohesive societies. Moreover, sports and the creative industry can support better mental health and well-being, both important for productivity.
“Policymakers can also be true to the game by leveraging culture and tradition to celebrate identity and reap commercial value in sports, textiles and jewelry. Creative sectors allow deeper connection with culture, are not easily copied and provide great economic potential.”
He said supporting grassroots sports has powerful distributional effects. “Fortunately, technology has made reaching wide audiences easier, generating higher rates of success when talent is discovered.”
However, Mabiakop held that potential pitfalls must be highlighted. “First avoid build it and they will come policies with infrastructures denuded from the rest of the ecosystem. Like the many sports stadiums left largely unused.”
“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”
Sport
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