Debt-trapped Gunners turns to supporters for rescue
Extension Gunners, stuck in a debt trap, has turned to its supporters for a helping hand. This week, the club through a press release announced it had slashed prices of Umbro replica jerseys from P450 to P350.
The move is set to speed up payment of debts, thus the club has pleaded with its members to lend a helping hand by buying the jerseys at reduced prices.
The club has been in the red zone for more than a decade. In 2017, Gunners announced that their debts exceeded more than a half million.
A year later in 2018, the club announced that debts have tripled to P1.8 million and at the time they anticipated they would increase profit. The Peleng-based side was earlier this year amongst five local clubs taken to FIFA by Serbian coach Dragojlo ‘Drago’ Stanojlovic over outstanding dues.
The club also had pending matters with former coaches Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul and Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare. Recently, yet another former coach Wame ‘Pepezino’ Mokoke threatened to take the club to the Labour Office.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Gunners communication manager, Gerald Mahumba was coy with the details but has said the club in is dire financial situation. He said the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has added to the club’s woes.
“As a club, we were severely affected by COVID-19 lockdowns and the suspension of the league. That (has) affected our source of revenue as a club hence we accumulated additional debts on top of the existing financial commitments,” he said.
“We are not in a position to divulge any other information as we are still consulting creditors and other stakeholders to address the matter.”
Meanwhile, Gunners has appointed club icon Otlaadisa ‘TRX’ Mohambi as the new head coach. The 39-year-old holds a CAF B licence and Gunners becomes his third head-coaching job after spells at Lobatse Stars and Mogoditshane Fighters in the Region One and First Division leagues.
He has played for Gunners in two spells between 2006 and 2007 and between 2010 and 2011. In his first spell at the club, he finished as the second highest top goal scorer while he won the FA Cup in his second.