Rollers, Shah in deadlock
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday March 24, 2023 11:16
Shah told Rollers that he would leave the club on May 31, unless he is given full ownership of the popular Gaborone club. As per the agreement between the two, Shah holds 80% shares while the club membership retains the remaining 20%.
The team's members met last Saturday at the club's office in Block 10, Gaborone to discuss Shah's resignation and chart the way forward. The meeting resolved that the general membership will not cede the remaining 20% to Shah. The club president was informed of the outcome of Saturday's meeting on Monday.
"Yes we met over the weekend and the members have directed the delegates that they are comfortable with the current agreement. The membership has told the delegates that they are not willing to change the current arrangement.
So as things stand, we are currently in talks with Mr Shah to seek a resolution. We met Shah on Monday and we presented the resolutions from the Saturday meeting to him.
One thing he highlighted is that he is unhappy with the resolution on the ownership; he is adamant that he wants total ownership," Rollers' public relations officer, Bafana Pheto told Mmegi Sport on Wednesday.
Pheto further said the club is running against time to decide on Shah before the May 31 deadline. He said the club membership is set to meet with Shah again this week to further discuss proposals from both parties. Contacted for comment, Shah was, however, unwilling to speak on the matter on Wednesday afternoon as he said he was jetting out of the country. "I do not want to comment on the matter because I do not want to pre-empt anything. I am at the airport at the moment, flying out of the country. I will be back next week," Shah briefly told Mmegi Sport. As the talks between the two parties progress, there is a glimmer of hope that Shah will remain at the club.
Despite the stand still, Pheto said operations at the 'Blue Machine' are going as smoothly as ever. "Remember Shah said he is leaving on May 31. So he is continuing with his daily duties at the club, players are being paid and all the operations are going as they were until May 31," he said. Pheto also said Popa does not have a 'Plan B' regarding an investor as the club is yet to receive a formal takeover proposal. The Blues are not having the best of seasons on the pitch as well.
The team is out of the race for the league championship as they lie fifth, 12 points behind leaders, Jwaneng Galaxy. Rollers have, however, progressed to the last 16 round of the Orange FA Cup where they play fellow Premier League side, Prisons XI.