Rollers not off the hook
Mqondisi Dube | Monday May 30, 2022 16:00
Rollers were due to know their fate last week, but the sentencing was postponed to this week Wednesday. While there has been speculation that Rollers might get a slap on the wrist for their transgression, there are reports the club could pay the full price, which includes points deduction for all the matches in which Ratanang was involved. The number of games is believed to be 16, with no independent verification from the Botswana Premier League (BPL). Rollers have lodged an appeal of their own against Security Systems, claiming some players were improperly registered.
However, Systems and the Botswana Football Association (BFA) issued separate statements last week disputing the players were improperly registered. The case has not been heard. Rollers was found guilty of registering Ratanang almost a month after the transfer window closed at the start of the season. Two Rollers officials, Motsheketsi Mafa and Sidney Magagane as well as the former BFA regions and competitions manager, Phuthego Setete were suspended from football activities in the ensuing fall-out. BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti said there is need to ‘clean’ the game of football following the incident. “For football to develop, we need clean football. There are a lot of people who are used to the old ways of doing things in an unacceptable manner. Botswana football must be clean and we are going to take action.
No fear whatsoever. Action will be taken so that Botswana conforms to international standards,” he said. “This season has been competitive on the pitch and we cannot allow such incidents to spoil the game of football,” he added. Sources said more heads are likely to fall in the aftermath of the Rollers issue. BFA National Executive Committee member, Tico Kamati reportedly faces the axe after he was accused of having access to the player registration system while sitting in the committee. The accusations have not been verified, but sources said his departure is imminent as the saga continues to divide football.