Fighters losing the fight
Mogoditshane Fighters survived relegation to the First Division South League by the skin of their teeth as their former coach Nelson Olebile plotted a miraculous escape of the Mogoditshane based side. The club survived yet another possible relegation to the lower leagues after failing to fully satisfy Botswana Football Association ( BFA) and Confederation of African Football ( CAF) club licensing manual, of which were pardoned and requested to resubmit necessary documents. The clubs’ stay in the local top tier league however will not go beyond the current season, according to several local pundits who have tipped the club as the favorites to finish bottom of the league, come end of May 2023. “Early season relegation candidates, Fighters will finish bottom of the log, it is an easy prediction, they have not been able to sort out some problems in the management, that will affect the technical department and subsequently they’ll relegate, unfortunately,” Monty
Gagomokgwa of Duma FM gave his prediction on the club ahead of the game against Township Rollers.
It appears the above predictions may not be far fetched, following reports that Olebile, who masterminded the club’s survival is on his way out just after the first game of the season.
Olebile was tasked with saving the club from relegation and after achieving the mandate, there were calls by the club’s leadership for him to stay for another season and lead the side for the season that has just commenced.
Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakagare, who is also a Member of Parliament for Mogoditshane, reportedly reached out to Olebile and asked him to remain with the club, promising to assist the club lure partnership and or sponsors but his attempts are yet to bear any fruits.
Following a five ( 5) months long local pre- season, the longest pre- season in the history of football, Mogoditshane Fighters players shockingly, could only manage a proper training a day before they could face- off against Thabo Motang’s Township Rollers.
Simisane Mathumo and Phenyo Serameng ensured that Mapalastina emerged 2- 0 winners but it was not a walk in the park as Fighters fought gallantly but only just fell- short.
“It is a sad state of affairs, the kit was not ready a day before the game against Rollers, the tailor had to work overnight to get it done. There was no lunch for the players, Rakgare apparently rescued the situation and sent some monies for lunch. After the game, Township Rollers technical team were kind enough to contribute P50 each and gave Nelson Olebile, for players’ transport back to their respective homes,” a close source to the developments shared. Contacted for a comment, Fighters chairman, Reginald Mautlane has come out guns blazing and blasted the current status of Botswana Football League ( BFL), labelling the situation a ‘ disaster’ and a league not worth competing in.
“There is a serious problem in Botswana Football; we were recently promoted from First Division and we were hoping that since we are coming into the top league things will be better but NO, it is even worse, there is no life in BFL. We were successful in our bid to avoid relegation; we did not receive any prize monies and for us it is a serious struggle. It is poverty all over and there is no reason to be playing in this league. Our players are suffering and we are forced to run clubs from our own pockets and that is not sustainable,” he said. Mautlane further revealed that he is contemplating to resign from his position at the club given the current situation in the local league. Fighters chairman, who is also a former player of the side highlighted that, sourcing sponsorship and or partnerships has been difficult as most companies are still recovering from the harsh economic impact of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. “COVID- 19 has affected most companies badly and most of them are still recovering. The Minister has also tried but it’s not easy,” he said. “I have questioned why the funds extended towards constituency league are not channeled towards mainstream football, constituency league cannot help to develop the growth of local football. We are currently preparing to bid for BONA 2027 and we should be doing better to show our serious intentions to deliver successful tournament. There is no football development in Botswana, everything is just a mess,” Mautlane added. “It is disheartening to be getting donations from your opponents going into the match for transport fares, it is unacceptable, this amounts to match- fixing. We are already incurring serious debts, it is painful,” Fighters chair expressed his frustrations.