Extension Gunners’ committee has called on their general membership to be united for the good cause of the Peleng giants.
Gunners vice-chairman, Keorapetse Kgasa, said this on Monday morning just 48 hours after he was elected at the club’s much-anticipated indaba, which was held in Lobatse on Saturday.
Kgasa is not new at Gunners as he previously served as a chairman before his committee resigned en-masse towards end of last year, citing unbearable conditions as their main reason of stepping down.
For the past seven months, an interim committee, which was led by Ludo Kemoeng, has been in charge of Mapantsula. Ahead of the elections there have been speculations of factions with some quarters feeling that the interim committee was not representing their interests at the club.
After the elections, which have only seen Kemoeng being retained from the interim committee but this time as the Marketing Manager, there have been reports of unhappiness amongst those who were booted out.
Some believe that Gunners’ membership have not done themselves any favours by re-electing most of the people who have failed Gunners in the past.
“It is unfortunate that the interim committee was not given a chance to continue with their plan of turning Gunners into a formidable side. For the first time, the supporters from Gaborone branch came in large numbers to support the lobby list which won in the end. People tend to forget that these are the same people who have failed us in the past but maybe this time around they’re coming with a better plan,” said a source who attended the meeting.
Some people who were not happy about the outcome of the meeting question the reasons of electing Rashid Chopdat (President), William Maboane (Chairman), Kemoeng (Marketing manager) and Cassim Dada (Communications Manager) in absentia.
“They might have been held up somewhere but we need people who would be committed to the cause of the team. (Nelson) Radijeng worked hard as a Publicity Officer to revamp our supporters branches but he was sacrificed for Cassim who has not attended our games in the past two years,” said a disappointed Gunners’ supporter.
But Kgasa said in an interview on Monday that it will be hard for some supporters to accept the outcome right now but hopes that in the near future all supporters will be united for the good of the team. He added that he does not expect any resentment even from those who were ousted on Saturday.
Asked why he decided to return to the committee after leaving in controversial circumstances some months back, Kgasa said he was pursued by some supporters who felt he still has a lot to offer.
“I had to respect the word of the supporters but I was clear that I would serve in any capacity except for the chairman’s post. When we left, it was not because we failed, there were ungovernable situations which led to the decision. It is not important to dwell in the past right now but on the future,” said Kgasa. ┬á
He pointed out that they are coming back into the office inheriting the same financial difficulties the team was in when they left.
Kgasa said that the main challenge facing his committee is to improve the relationship between the management and players. He said that player-management relationship is critical as they want to improve the fortunes of the club.
Another thing which the Gunners’ official feel they have to address with immediate effect is the Bosele Declaration compliance manual. It is reported that very soon Gunners will open an office in Gaborone, opposite Gaborone United offices.
When contacted on Saturday, Maboane said he was on a business trip to Malaysia and has not been informed of the developments at the club. But he confirmed that he has shown interest in leading the club and given a chance, he would do his utmost best to make Gunners a force to reckon with.
After signing George Mpuniki (Gaborone United), Boitshoko Zikhale (Uniao Flamengo Santos) and Clarkson Dzimbiri from TAFIC, Mapantsula were expected to seal the deal with talented defensive midfielder Alphonse Modisaotsile from TAFIC this week.
The full committee is as follows; Chopdat (President), Maboane (Chairman), Kgasa (Vice-Chairman), Ian Kebopetswe (Secretary), Tshepo Bojelo (Treasurer), Kemoeng (Marketing Manager), Boti Tapela (Manager), Mothusi Kgolele (Welfare Manager) and Cassim Dada (Communications Manager).
