Rollers ‘cooked’ Ratanang’s contract?
Township Rollers’ left-back Onkarabile Ratanang could have been forced into a new contract by the club, according to information reaching Mmegi Sport.
The player finds himself in the middle of a saga that has brought his registration into question. Ratanang is said to have been registered inappropriately as his registration was completed on October 29, 2021, well after the registration period closed on September 30, 2021.
Ratanang joined Rollers in January 2018 from Sankoyo Bush Bucks and went on to become a regular member of the squad. The fullback was signed on an initial two and half year deal that was to elapse in June 2020.
Mmegi Sport is in possession of a sworn affidavit signed before the police by Ratanang. In the document, the player indicated that he was not aware that his contract was extended by a further three years after it had expired. Making the statement before the Botswana Police Service on April 14, 2022, the 24-yearold said the new contract was supposed to end on June 2023. “Before the football activities were stopped due to the outbreak of COVID-19, I received a call from the team manager (Mr Motshegetsi Mafa) asking me to come and renew my contract at the club’s office. When I reached the office I was surprised to see a new contract extension that is ending in 2023.
I asked Mr Mafa to explain why he called me to the office whilst he knew that my contract has been extended and it is running. His response was that it was a mistake they will correct going forward,” part of Ratanang’s statement reads. He further said he was shocked to learn that he was a ‘defaulter’ during the campaign and thus his registration was inappropriate. In search of answers, the player was told to ‘relax’ by the club’s management.
“I trained with the team (Township Rollers) until the commencement of the current season (2021–2022). It was during this period that I heard rumours that I am not properly registered. Upon hearing this I had to seek clarity from the general manager (Mr Sidney Magagane).
He told me to relax because they are handling the issue at the office,” the statement reads. Ratanang further said the team’s coach, Romain Folz told him last month that he would sit out the rest of the games until the matter is resolved.
He has since missed three games while both Magagane and Mafa have been suspended from the Botswana Football Association. The two, alongside former BFA competitions manager, Setete James Phuthego are said to have acted in cahoots to register Ratanang outside the transfer window.