Gunners confident of beating club licensing deadline

Peleng giants, Extension Gunners remain confident that they will be able to meet the five days deadline that has been set for them together with four other clubs that have been given a second chance to fight for their stay in the Premier League.

Earlier this month, Gunners, Morupule Wanderers, Masitaoka, Mogoditshane Fighters and Eleven Angels were denied licenses after failing to meet club licensing requirements and were sent packing to the Botswana Football Association’s (BFA) lowest football structure. However, they were given another chance to battle for their places in the elite after this past week when the First Instance Body (FIB) made a decision to allow them to re-submit their applications. They were each ordered to pay P15,000 fine. The five days period end tomorrow (September 20) and Gunners, who are reportedly rocked by debts, have said they are optimistic that they will meet the deadline.

Club chairperson, Bruno Masisi revealed that the team is observing the deadline and that they are indeed working around the clock to meet it. Masisi acknowledged the fact that the club has lately been facing financial crisis, which is also the same crisis that put the club in jeopardy with club licensing. “Our problems for a long time have been financial constraints hence the mess we find ourselves in and also too bad for us as the solution is also based on money but I am confident we will make it”, said Masisi.

He also revealed that the club has already appointed the club physiotherapist, which was one the requirements that made the club fail the club licensing.

He also said with regard to the financial crisis, the club is currently engaging all its creditors, and he is hopeful the parties will reach amicable agreements to help them clear the debts.

“The first option is to settle the debts that we have as a club, but if it fails we will pay deposit as agreed by the parties involved and make agreements as to how the remaining balances will be settled,” he said.

The FIB is expected to convene on the matter from September 21 to start assessing the applications from the five clubs and deliver its decision the next day. The clubs will then be given two days to appeal if they feel aggrieved by the FIB’s decision. The Appeals Body shall then take over and deliver the decision on September 29.