Gaborone United Sporting Club (GU), have confirmed the suspension of three of their key players.
The trio of Jackie Mothatego, Tebogo Sembowa and Mandla Mgadla are said to have been suspended with full pay while investigations are made into their alleged misdemeanors. The three players’ resignation is said to have come following a report from the team’s technical committee.
The players, who were conspicuous by their absence during the team’s loss to BMC this previous Thursday, will not be part of the team until their issues have been resolved.
Speaking in an interview, GU’s Communications Manager, Kabelo Brown said while they could not divulge on what exactly the players did, all the team was prepared to tell was that they are out due to indiscipline related issues.
He said at the moment, there is no set time frame as to when the three players will be allowed back in the team, adding that only when the investigations are complete and resolution has been taken will they return.
“This is not the first time that we have had to deal with issues relating to indiscipline by some of the players involved. Last year when we had this problem, we sat down with them and other concerned parties like their parents and we eventually came with what at the time we believed was an amicable resolution,” Brown explained.
He said with the problem having recurred, they are now seeking a permanent solution so that the problem does not rear a head again.
Brown said this time around, they want to carry a very thorough investigation into the problem as they ‘want to nip it at the root.’
Asked whether the suspensions would not adversely affect the team’s title challenge, the GU Communications Manager said as any other member of the GU team, the three players are important to the club but are not larger than the team.
“We have 25 players in our team and none is more important than the overall sum, the team. We believe that each player we got is very talented and as thus every player is treated equally,” he explained.
He said as a club, GU has a code of conduct that applies to all players, staff and supporters and failure to adhere will result in appropriate action.
Brown further explained that the team does not anticipate a situation similar to that of Moemedi Moatlhaping who was suspended by the club and was later off loaded, hence their determination to find an amicable win win solution for both the players and the team.
On other issues related to players, the club says it has signed Benson Shilongo from Tiger Sports in Namibia. The 22-year-old a new striker is expected to be on the team line up for their next game. Brown said the striker’s International Clearance has arrived from the Botswana Football Association (BFA) and the club is now finalizing work permit and other logistics for the player.
