Gunners ponder FIFA ban
Larona Makhaiza | Saturday May 20, 2023 06:00
FIFA recently indicated that the Lobatse side is banned from signing any players for the next three transfer windows after breaching its contract with defender, Desire Bafana.
Bafana is owed P400,000 by the club and FIFA had given Gunners 45 days from February 20 to pay the debt. However, the financially-troubled side failed to pay, resulting in the ban kicking in.
“Yes, we saw on social media that we are banned but we haven’t yet gotten any official communication from BFA (Botswana Football Association or FIFA,” Ngwamotsoko said.
He, however, said after seeing the news on social media, as a matter of urgency, made a follow-up on the matter. “As a matter of concern we engaged the BFA and they told us that yes, we are banned to take part in the transfer window,” he said.
He said while they have not received written communication from BFA or FIFA over the ban, they are not taking the decision lying down. “We will write to FIFA this week and see how best we can solve this matter without the transfer ban being imposed on us,” Ngwamotsoko said. He hopes FIFA will heed their cries, as the club cannot afford to miss doing business in the transfer window as they are in dire straits.
With Gunners relegated from the Premier League, there was talk of selling the club to solve the financial problems. “Gunners is a society club, we cannot sell it rather we can try to commercialise it to be a company and merge it with the society to solve its financial issues,” he said. Ngwamotsoko said the club needs to regroup and structure to effectively compete in Debswana First Division South league (DFDS).
“First Division has proven itself to be competitive and our players should align themselves,” he said. Ngwamotsoko said he hopes Gunners do not lose too many players to be able to complete well in the lower division.
But already, the team captain, Omphile Vissagie is rumoured to have a pre-contract with defending Premier League champions, Gaborone United. But Ngwamotsoko dismissed the reports. “That’s rubbish. Omphile is our player and he signed a two-year contract with us last year. If GU want our player they should follow the proper channels. GU have not even contacted us,” Ngwamotsoko said.