Suspended Township Rollers goalkeeper trainer, Thabo ‘Mahala’ Motang, will know his fate after meeting the club’s executive committee at their offices in Gaborone tomorrow.
The meeting is said to have been made possible by the major shareholder, Jagdish Shah, at the request of the legendary goalkeeper.
“It is true that we’re meeting with him but I cannot disclose what will be discussed at the meeting. This is a matter between the employer and employee. Let me make it clear that Thabo remains an employee of Township Rollers hence we’ve suspended him with pay,” confirmed Rollers’ executive manager, Phuthego Setete, on Friday morning. Setete refused to shed light as to what could have led to the legendary goalkeeper’s suspension.
When contacted for comment, Motang was cagey with the details, which led to his suspension.
“All I can confirm is that I’ve been invited to a meeting on Monday but I’ll be in a position to shed light into the whole thing after that meeting. I still remain committed to the club until I’m officially sacked,” said Motang before hanging up his phone.
Though there are contradicting statements as to what could have led to Motang’s suspension, reports indicate that Rollers were not impressed after the goalkeeper trainer took his employer to the Labour Office after he went eight months without pay. Motang registered the matter with the Labour Office in March.
Both Motang and Rollers’ leadership made a mutual agreement that the matter be solved internally. It is after Motang had decided to withdraw the case that Rollers’ leadership slapped him with a suspension.
It is said that Motang made contact with Shah on Thursday and then the businessman suggested a Monday meeting.
“It seems some members of the executive have given Jagdish false stories about Motang. It is only after hearing his side of the story that he called for a Monday hearing,” said a Rollers’ insider.
Motang joined the Gaborone giants as a goalkeeper trainer in 2008 from First Division side Mahalapye Hotspurs. During his stay at the club, Motang has won the Be MOBILE Premier League title back-to-back between 2009 and 2011. He was showered with praises during those two seasons after Kabelo Dambe became one of the finest goalkeepers in the country.
Dambe has since moved to South African Premier League side Platinum Stars and he is also the national team’s first-choice goalkeeper. While he has been doing a great job at the club with goalkeepers, there is speculation that his suspension has long been coming. Those close to developments say that he could have been fired a fortnight ago at the same time with previous coach Darlington Dodo. If Rollers and Motang part ways, he will not spend a lot of time without a job as two of the Premier League sides have already enquired about his services.
In Motang’s absence, national Under-17 goalkeeper trainer Joseph Maposa was spotted drilling the goalkeepers ahead of their crucial Mascom Top 8 semi-final second leg clash in Molepolole this afternoon. Former Zimbabwean goalkeeper Peter Nkomo also spent time at the club but he has since returned home.
