Relief as Chiefs factions smoke peace pipe
The dust appears to be finally settling at the Debswana First Division South league side, Mochudi Centre Chiefs with the two warring factions now heading for reconciliation.
The two parties, the society and the company have been battling for the control of the club in the last two months, threatening to tear apart the once formidable Kgatleng side.
The Kgatleng Regional Football Association (KRFA), where the club is affiliated, stepped up reconciliation efforts this week which are reportedly bearing fruit. The two parties have reportedly reached a common ground.
The company representatives have reportedly agreed to return the team to the society as well as other properties belonging to the club. The news, which has been welcomed by Magosi supporters, was confirmed by the interim chairperson, Victor Kobe who said they are currently engaging with both the association and company representatives for a formal handover of the team and all society assets in their possession.
He said they have since re-opened the club’s home ground, Skanska River Plate ground as preparations for the new season continue.
The company recently entered into a six-year management contract with Dirang Express but Kobe said all that is now void but added that should the society show interest in running the team through the same model, that will be subject to negotiations with the society.
“We must remember that the MCC Pty (Ltd) has requested termination of the contract from the day they signed the MoU and what this means is they actually nullify all contracts in place, but should Dirang Express show interest in running the team through the same model, that will be subject to negotiations entered into to determine if they are favourable to the society’s demands and can actually help settle debts of the society monetarily, then the committee can decide on its fate, the contract period was a bit ridiculous for a management contract,” he said.
He said it is now up to the society to determine a workable model that will be owned by the society. He also said related workshops and further research will be undertaken with professionals to assist in a transformational set-up while also inviting corporate industry players to help come up with a better commercial method.
He said all that will be after January 22 next year when the club goes for its elective Annual General Meeting. He said his committee is in the process of doing a constitutional review and will traverse the country to get ideas from branch members on the draft constitution.