If there is anything the Premier League has managed to prove thus far is that” It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are ingenious.” The foolhardy Premier League leadership was first exposed six years ago when they became subjects of a belated “April Fool” prank by self proclaimed Zimbabwean businessman Oscar Kubara.
As famous writer Lauren Oliver would say: What glitters may not be gold; and even wolves may smile; and fools will be led by promises to their deaths”, Premier League officials found themselves mesmerized by Kubara’s fool’s gold bringing the league to a standstill. The sweet-tongued Kubara promised the gullible Premier League officials millions of US Dollars and to bring on board multimillionaires from the Arab World to support the local league. The rash Premier League leadership even went on to announce a multi-million Pula sponsorship while they had nothing to back up their announcement safe for Kubara’s word. The sponsorship never materialized.
The premier ÔÇôLeague leadership had made fools of themselves, luckily be-MOBILE saved the situation. As it turned out, when the league leadership made fools of themselves, they did a permanent job.
The local football is going through a growth phase and potential investors are putting their money in football. A lot has been happening in football circles of late which leave a lot to be desired.
Currently football teams are trying to turn professional and deviate from societies’ model. Already there is a success story in Gaborone United, where businessman, Nicolas Zakhem bought a controlling stake. However things are not smooth sailing for Township Rollers and Notwane. Their cases are already being litigated. At Rollers some team supporters and officials argue that proper channels were not followed to turn it into a company. A fool’s gold strike that harks back to the Kubara incident seems to be playing out at Notwane where “businessman”, Gift Mogapi promised heavens and earth when he bought the club. Reports from Notwane state that Mogapi is yet to deliver on his promises. To add an insult to an injury, Mogapi is being accused of taking part of the team’s mobilization fees from the Premier League and some gate takings. He then vanished for about a month to South Africa, leaving some international players he bought stranded. The international players have since left Notwane to join other teams. The question many soccer followers and the public at large are asking themselves is how Mogapi managed to own Notwane without putting up a single cent and why he collected the money due to the team and kept it for himself.
A few weeks ago, the Premier League leadership came under the spotlight when they tried to stop a Premier League encounter between BDF XI and Mochudi Centre Chiefs for a friendly game between the latter and a South African side, Kaizer Chiefs. BDF XI had to go to court to force the Premier League to honour the league schedule and they won. Soccer analyst, Fobby Radipotsane told Sunday Standard that the main problem with Premier League leadership is that it does not have a management committee. He said without management committee the Premier League was bound to stumble now and then. “Our Premier League needs a strong and independent management committee that will manage all affairs of the league and report to the board. They will be very accountable without any unilateral decisions. What we currently see is that Bennet Mamelodi is almost working alone. In this case he will always have challenges. It is now up to the Premier League teams to have a management committee,” he said.
