GU players warned
The bone of contention is that with the players having professional contracts, a need for rest during off-season is imperative to promote high level performances. Also, the risk of incurring serious injuries during these games cannot be overlooked.
The BFL champions have a reported monthly wage bill of over P350 000 and they have come out guns blazing to stop their players’ active participation in social football.
Heading into independence celebrations, the club once more warned players against actively taking part in the games and introduced new stringent penalties for violators.
Several of the star players were seen on social media making headlines after starring in one of the tournaments in Gaborone two months back. When contacted for a comment, Gaborone United General Manager Thapelo Mothusi admitted that, “It is a serious concern”, adding that the BFL has issued several circulars to warn the players against actively participating in social soccer, “but it seems like the message has been falling on deaf ears,” he said.
He went on to insinuate that the BFL is also to blame as it has not taken any action against the perpetrators in previous cases. “Maybe [BFL’s lack of proactiveness] they also have to look at themselves, they have not acted and that is why these players continue to take part in these games [Social club football]. The contracts however are clear and straightforward, once you are a professional player you cannot partake in these games”, he added.
Gaborone United general manager said for them a lot of their players have previously been taking part in these games but that following “our strict measures surrounding the issue there has been a significant decline.
“Our players are getting to understand the negative side of it [partaking in social football], we are currently investigating a few cases and hopefully after December holidays we will have zero cases”.
A minimum of P5 000 has been mentioned as a charge for any of the Money Machine players who will be seen actively taking part in the social football games and the charge may rise with the number of games played.