Township Rollers maiden appearance in the group stages of the CAF champions’ league group stages has come at a major cost as the team continues to bleed cash in penalties by the continental football body.
After what started as a chance to make monies from their CAF Champions’ League group stages debut, ‘Popa’ has endured a torrent of charges by CAF for failing to fulfill their broadcast obligations.
Following their initial US$40 000 (+/- P400 000) charge in the opening game, Rollers were once again made to bear a hefty US$24 0000 (+/- P240 000) cost to bring in expertise and extra equipment from outside the borders in order to broadcast their last weekend clash against Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.
The latest charge given to Rollers was confirmed by the Botswana Chief Executive officer (BFA CEO) Mfolo Mfolo.
“Rollers was charged because SuperSport came on board to assist BTV with technical expertise that the local broadcaster did not have,” Mfolo explained.
According to Mfolo, the BFA negotiated with CAF to allow the local broadcaster to produce the match.
“CAF acceded to the request and they sent an assessor to assess BTV equipment to see if it can produce the game according to the prescribed standards,” he explained.
Mfolo said the assessor was not happy with some of the equipment the local broadcaster has and he recommended that BTV can only broadcast the match with the help of other broadcasting companies from outside hence SuperSport came on board.
“SuperSport partnered with BTV and it brought their crew to assist the local team and it coasted USD24 000” said Mfolo.
The BFA boss explained that the assessor was not comfortable with the BTV back up plan to produce the game as they did not have modern OB van with contemporary devices to produce the game to the required standards.
Mfolo also said the local broadcaster did not also have equipment to immediately produce a recorded match in a CD format.
The BFA CEO is however optimistic that the SuperSport crew support will capacitate the local team to improve where they are lacking.
According to Mfolo the same arrangement will continue until Rollers finishes its CAF campaign and it will be charged USD24 000 for every game the team plays at home.
Popa is now left with only one home group game to play. They are expected to host Tunisian side, Esperance on the 28th August at the National Stadium.