Chiefs fail to beat FIFA clock on Mabhena bill
Club faces FIFA wrath over former coach’s wages Magosi only raised P17,000 on deadline day Pleads for extension from FIFA
Mochudi Centre Chiefs face risk of dire consequences from the world’s football governing body FIFA over their failure to raise enough funds to pay former coach, Philani Mabhena.
Magosi were given until yesterday to pay the Zimbabwean mentor an amount of P116,665. However by the time of going to press yesterday, the Kgatleng giants had only managed to raise P17,000.
The club has been pleading with supporters to help settle the bill. Two weeks ago, club spokesperson, Pollen Makgane told Mmegi Sport that despite their call for help, there was nothing in the coffers.
Yesterday, Makgane said they have only managed to raise P17,000. He said although the as
sistance from the supporters was very low, he understands that because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, everyone’s income has been adversely affected. He said they would wait until close to midnight yesterday to see how
much they had raised so that they could plead with FIFA for leniency and extension to raise the remaining balance.
“Maybe COVID-19 has a say in the amount of contributions so far. We have to remember that many of our supporters are amongst the affected,” he said.
“Some have lost jobs while others’ businesses are not doing well. The club also does not have anything in the coffers otherwise we would take all that and add onto this. We cannot make money right now because as you know there is no football here at the moment.”
He added they would write to FIFA to request that they pay what they have raised for now and see how best they can do to pay the remaining balance. The club set up a fundraising committee consisting of three people; Motsumi Madisa, Sponkie Kedikilwe and Debbie Setlhabi, whose role is to help raise funds specifically for the former coach’s case.
Mabhena had initially demanded P121,100 from Chiefs but following submissions from both parties, FIFA eventually ruled that he be paid P116,665. Chiefs recently prevailed over another former coach, Bongani Mafu, who claimed that the club owed him a total of P449,500. However, unlike the Mabhena case, Mafu’s was dismissed by the world’s football governing body.