Extension Gunners players are reported to have boycotted the team’s end of year Players awards which were hosted over the past weekend. It has emerged that only seven out of a squad of 27 players attended the Saturday dinner awards.
Earlier reports had indicated that some players had not attended the awards because they had not been invited. However, it has since emerged that the nonappearance by some players was because they had not been paid their salaries for some time.
“All the 27 players were invited as well as the technical team. The players did not turn up because they didn’t see it necessary to come when they have pending unpaid salaries,” explained Ipeleng Ramolefhe, who was one of the event organisers. Ramolefhe also said despite the players having been called on Saturday to inform them of transport arrangements, most of them turned a blind eye and came up with excuses.
“Some players said they were out of town when they were asked where they should be picked up,” she explained.
Contacted for comment, the team’s chairman, Phenyo Gothaang declined to comment on the logistics of the organization. “The awards were organised by supporters not the executive – they are the ones who can give you precise answers as to how they organised everything.”
However, Gothaang said there is still room of improvement looking at the fact that the awards were the first to be staged. Ramolefhe concurred with his chairman saying had they found more sponsors; they could have given the winners better prize money.
Long serving player, Finki Mothibi won two awards for most disciplined and the chairman’s award. Each award carried a cash prize of P2000. Most improving award went to Emanuel Machinya while the top goal scorer award went to Jomo Moatlhaping who netted seven goals the past season. The player of the season award went to Desire Bafana.
