The Center Chiefs ordeal
Sport
For the second time in a space of a year, the titanic at Mochudi Center Chiefs has hit the iceberg following revelations of militancy and in-fighting as the team continues to battle an identity crisis. WeekendSport, this week, learnt from various sources that contrary to popular belief, the mighty Center Chiefs have yet to deregister their society, since a Trust was set up to run the team’s affairs.
The shocking information comes to the fore just a month after one of the team big tanks Raymond Tsheko was quoted as saying the club had deregistered the society to form a trust. Tsheko revealed this in October of 2015 at the club’s press briefing where premier league’s Chief Executive Officer Bennett Mamelodi was one of the guests.
According to findings, the ordeal was heightened when a small section of supporters grouped themselves to knock at the door of the Department of Civil and National Registration to submit returns of the club on the 7TH OF October 2015.
The group committee, reports suggest was formed on the 9TH of September 2015 and one Tsieng Ramocha happens to be its leader. But upon reception of such, it happened that the Registrar was slapped with a letter from a sitting Mochudi Center Chiefs committee that it should disregard the submission of returns hence branding it unlawful. The letter intercepted by this publication bears the date of 27 October 2015 and carries the signature of club chairperson Ernest Molome.
On November 11 2015, the Registrar of Societies replied the letter signed by Molome. In fact, in the response, the registrar did not in any way mention the illegal committee but rather took the team to task for its non-compliance over the years. The registrar further remind the committee that they were sitting on a time ticking bomb as, their attempts to dissolve the club, as per society act, did not see the light of the day due to their perennial misunderstandings.
The Registrar’s letter reads in part, ‘‘…kindly note that Mochudi Center Chiefs sporting club is still duly registered under the societies act. Be further informed that, in 2013 you attempted to dissolve the club but you were not successful. Be referred to a correspondence written by this office which you were requested to submit some supporting documents within 90 days failure for which your intent to dissolve the club will be refused under Societies act18; 01 section 7,sub section 2(b). Since you failed to submit the said documents, the club was not dissolved and maintained its registration status with the registrar of societies,’’ the letter stated.
To further solidify the matter, Botswana Football Association (BFA) on the 10TH of November confirmed that the team affiliated as a society and has never been dissolved.
When reached for clarity, club media liaison Clifford Mogomotsi confirmed that they are indeed struggling to dissolve the society, but however said that they will soon do so as per the club resolution. ‘It is very true that we have not yet dissolved the society but be mindful that we are working on it as per our June resolution,’’ he said.
This, according to reports has left the club fighting tooth and nail for its survival on the spot of the game. The Registrar in fact triggered the beginning of the fall of a greater team when they mentioned that they are about to deregister it. ‘On the 16th of February 2015, you were reminded to submit annual returns for the years ending, 2012, 2013 and 2014 because your club was not complying. It has come to our attention that this club has not been complying over the years; the Registrar of Societies is therefore preparing to de-register Mochudi Center Chiefs Sporting club,’’ the letter states.
In attempting to alleviate the matter, sources speaking to WeekendSport mention that the two committees met on the 7th of December but nothing concrete came out as each questioned the authenticity of the other.
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.