Chiefs' ticketing issue referred to DC
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Saturday February 10, 2024 08:53
This follows a long-standing impasse between the league committee and Mochudi Centre Chiefs in which the latter increased ticket prices for their home games from P25 to P30.
The matter took an interesting turn recently when the league committee decided to suspend Magosi’s two home matches against Uniao Flamengo Santos and Desert Nxau after the Kgatleng giants’ insistence on ‘violating’ the ticket price regulation. However, the suspension was lifted while the parties sought a permanent solution to the impasse.
The standard price set by the league committee stands at P25 but the Kgatleng giants have constantly charged P5 extra for their home matches. The league committee’s secretary, Ishmael Modise, yesterday said they handed the matter to the Botswana Football League (BFL), which would then take the matter to the Disciplinary Committee (DC).
“We are just waiting for the date on which we will be called up to state our case and concerns. The expectation is that the matter should be heard within 14 days from the time the DC received the complaint,” he said. Modise said they remain resolute in their decision to ensure that the ticket prices for the First Division league matches remain uniform.
Meanwhile, league action resumes this weekend with Santos hosting log leaders, Young Stars at the Gabane United ground in a top-of-the-table clash. Young Stars have opened a six-point lead at the top after 12 games. Santos, however, have played one game less and will be hoping to cut the lead, still with one game in hand.
The remaining game is against Chiefs, which was disrupted by the rainy weather in Mochudi two weeks ago. It was then rescheduled to Wednesday last week but was called off again following the ticket pricing issue between the Kgatleng giants and the league committee. Former Premier League giants, Mogoditshane Fighters will be at home to Notwane who recently re-appointed Thaloba ‘Machine’ Nthaga as head coach. Fighters are languishing at the bottom of the league table with eight points while Notwane are in position nine with 14 points.
Desert Nxau will be hoping to build on from last weekend’s performance in which they held Chiefs away from home when they take on Prisons XI in Tsabong. Only three points separate the two sides with Prisons XI sitting at position 10 while the home side sits at position 11. City Polar will be at home to Tlokweng United at SSG ground. On Sunday, Extension Gunners will be looking to keep pace with the log leaders but face a tricky UB Hawks side at the SSG ground while Black Forest host Magosi in Mmankgodi. All the matches kick off at 4:30pm.