The race to strengthen up the teams during the current transfer window is intensifying by the day and the lure of the P1 million first prize appears to have stimulated the buying of players.
Last year around this time, Mochudi Centre Chiefs were rumoured to be a shopping mall because many players were reported on the verge of leaving the club en-masse because their promises had not been fulfilled. Chiefs managed to quell the situation and went on to sweep almost all trophies on offer.
The team is once again back in the spotlight with the same rumours of players’ exodus.
The notable player reported on the way out of the team is Mpho ‘Jomo’ Mabogo who is reported to be on his way back to his former team, BDF XI. According to Sunday Standard’s ‘Deep Throat’, Mabogo wrote a letter to Centre Chiefs in December expressing his desire to leave the Kgatleng side to re-join the team where he launched his career and won many titles.
When approached for comment, Mabogo rubbished the allegations, saying he is a Chiefs player.
“As I am talking to you, I am training with Chiefs, preparing for Sunday (today)’s game at the University of Botswana Stadium. What you hear is just allegations that do not have substance,” he said. Efforts to reach Chiefs proved futile at time of going to press.
Whether the team will quell the situation and retain all the players remains to be seen.
Sunday Standard can further reveal that Gaborone United are trying with all their might to lure one of the few loyal players in local football and the pillar of the Gunners defence, Finiki ‘Mathousand’ Mothibi. The team is reported to have written a letter to Gunners asking for negotiations with the player.
Gunners, on the other hand, will not easily lose the player of Mothibi’s caliber and are trying all they can to keep him.
Gunners coach, Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare, told Sunday Standard that they cannot stop a team from negotiating with their players provided proper channels are followed. He, however, added that Mothibi has since showed his commitment by signing a new two-year contract with the team.
“Mothibi was molded and grew in Gunners and he would not easily leave unless a deal is tempting. Already we have defence challenges and why would we let him easily leave,” he said.
GU would not shed much light on the matter. The secretary of the team, Kagiso Sechele, said everything was still under wraps at the team and would be revealed in due course. He, however, added that the only player to have left the team is Molatedi Mabina who went to BDF XI.
Sunday Standard long revealed that the player was on the way out of the GU camp because he was short listed for the cadets’ post at the army. The system is normally used by the army team to lure good players.
BDF XI now looks a more serious team and it would not be surprising if they end up winning the league. They have assembled a very strong team from the goalkeeping department to the striking force.
With Rollers, Chiefs and GU also in pole positions, it looks like this season is going to be really tough.
Nare made it clear that the team is in need of two defenders. He said they have already identified some but they might be constrained by money. With the first round still to get to the half way point, most teams want to collect as many points as they can before the second round, which is naturally tough and interesting.
Rollers are still tight lipped on their next target. Many pundits, however, believe that the team already has many players to challenge for honours. Having been eluded by the league championship for the past three seasons, the team might roar into life in the coming games. Players like Terrence Mandaza, Mohammed Chawila, Joel Mogorosi are just some of the few who make the team a force to contend with.
