A cash windfall in rewards bonuses is looming for Township Rollers players ahead of their much anticipated CAF Champions’ league group stage debut.
Having disposed of the highly ranked Al Merrikh of Sudan in the preliminary round, Rollers did the unthinkable once more as they beat Tanzania’s Young Africans 2 -1 away from home.
‘Popa’ will be looking to complete the “mission impossible” on the 17th of March when they host the self same Young Africans at the National Stadium in the second leg of the champions’ league.
A win or a draw on the day will see Rollers write history as Botswana’s first club to make it into the group stages of the lucrative continental club championship.
Club President Jagdish Shah has confirmed that he will reward Rollers players for their exploits in pursuit of continental pride in the champions’ league.
While he did not disclose how much each player will be awarded for reaching the group stages, Shah revealed that it will be an amount higher than the P5000 that was rewarded to each player when they lifted the Mascom Top 8 last weekend.
“The team has done well thus far and deserve better as they have done well for the country and club. We are just waiting for the last lap before the group stages and players will be rewarded for the tremendous job,” Shah told Sunday Standard.
Shah said despite financial burden that comes with competing in the continent, the club is ready to compete and prove their mettle against the best clubs in Africa.
“We have always been ready for the challenge, we understand that competing in the group stages is financially taxing but it is not a concern for us as we are ready mentally and financially,” Shah said.
He added that competing at the highest level in Africa has been his dream, which he defines is on the right track as they will fight to pass through to the next stage.
“It will not be the end even if we reach the group stage. This is our pride and we won’t sit back as we have been working for this dream and so far we are on the right track,” said Shah.
While Rollers have pocketed P1, 3 million for claiming the Mascom Top 8 title, the defending BTC Premiership champions have one more piece of unfinished business in the domestic arena as they are in the chase for another P1, 3 million of the league title.
Competing in the group stages will enhance Rollers chances of pocketing better cash with the bottom placed club in the log table taking home at least P6 million.
