There is an air of confusion regarding the transfer of Township Rollers and national team midfielder, Joel Mogorosi, to archrivals Mochudi Centre Chiefs. Apparently, Mogorosi has joined Chiefs after signing a two and half year contract.
There are rumours, however, that Mogorosi still has a running contract with South African side Orlando Pirates and was just on loan to Township Rollers. And as such any team interested in him would have to negotiate with Pirates first, not Township Rollers.
Mogorosi left Rollers following his demand for a salary increase. Rollers could not meet his demands and several teams courted his signature but he ended up at Chiefs.
He was even absent from his team’s 6-2 demolishing of Uniao Flamengo Santos.
Surprisingly, Rollers are not willing to comment on the matter.
Last week, the team’s Managing Director, Somerset Gobuiwang, declined to comment and this week he did not take calls from Sunday Standard.
Even the teams’ mouth piece, Kaizer Sekaba’s phone rang unanswered and he did not return the calls on Friday night.
While Centre Chiefs claim to have signed the player, they failed to parade him at their press conference on Wednesday after promising to do so earlier on.
Before going to press, Centre Chiefs also failed to answer Sunday Standard calls. Spokesperson, Cliford Mogomotsi, did not answer his phone or return the calls.
Mogorosi was instrumental in helping Rollers win the league last season and is also at the fore front of helping them to defend the title. He was also a subject of transfer to South African Premier League side, Supersport United. Despite playing as a midfielder, he is among the top goalscorers in the be-Mobile Premier League.
Mogorosi is also playing a crucial role in helping the Zebras qualify for their maiden appearance at 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Information reaching Sunday Standard is that both Rollers and Centre Chiefs are engaged in an off the field war regarding recruitment of players. Centre Chiefs are reportedly fighting to lure Rollers midfield dynamo and Malawian international, Lawrence Majawa, who played a pivotal role in helping Rollers win the league last season. He is also doing the same to help them defend the title.
Rollers are fingering their former coach, Rahman Gumbo, for being at the fore front as he is the one who brought Majawa to Botswana from Malawi. Centre Chiefs are also reportedly blaming Rollers for going behind their back to recruit their two influential players, Lesego Galenamotlhale and Tshephiso Kgosiemang.
