Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Some missing players and coach worry Gunners supporters

It has been 16 years since Gunners won a major trophy in Botswana and since then the team has been in free fall and were always in the relegation zone.

Things started to improve four seasons ago when they started finishing in the top eight.
This season, it was their best as they finished in the top four.

This season the supporters were looking forward to a major challenge in either the league or the Coca Cola tournament.

Things, however, seem not to be a bed of roses. The team coach and some of the key players are reported to be missing from the team’s training sessions – something that is sending shivers down the spines of many Gunners supporters.

The reason Nare has not been at training is because his contract is not yet renewed.

It is a surprise that the team has taken so long to renew his contract. Normally contract negotiations start six months before a contract expires. However, information reaching Standard Sport is that Nare has been offered a new contract whose duration is not yet clear.
It is also not clear whether or not Nare has signed the contract.

Nare always maintained that he was waiting for the team to give him a new contract. Already many teams were reported to be watching the developments closely.

Since his contract ended, resulting in his absence at the team’s training sessions, this further fuelled speculation that he is already on the way out. When Sunday Standard approached him on the contractual rumours, Nare did not want to comment on the matter and referred all enquiries to the management of Gunners.

“What I can tell you is that my lawyer advised me not to talk to the media about the issue so the best way is to talk to Gunners,” he said.

On the other hand efforts to contact the team chairman, Keorapetse Kgasa, were futile.
Nare joined Gunners three seasons ago and catapulted them to respectable positions in the league. Their best finish was last season when they ended in the top four.

However, reports emanating from the team are that two of their instrumental players, Othusitse Mahube and Monageng Thaele are reported to be missing from the team’s training sessions but it is not clear why.

If their disappearance means they are joining other clubs it would be a big blow to coach Nare who intended to challenge for honours this season. Thaele, on the other hand, is on loan from Rollers while Mahube is a long time Gunners player.

To add salt to injury, Gunners have already lost their versatile midfielder, Emmanuel Nlu, to Francistown-based side, Tasc that has just gained promotion.

Nlu, who played as a defender for most of last season, was a pillar of strength at the back and it is going to be difficult for the team to find his replacement.

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