Paying the price for success
Mqondisi Dube | Monday June 2, 2025 09:51
Coach Xabi Alonso has joined Real Madrid whilst Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz are on the verge of joining Liverpool, and defender Jonathan Tah has made the switch to rivals, Bayern Munich. It is the inevitable as most clubs have paid the horrendous price for success. The Leicester City side that won the English Premier League in 2015 was stripped to almost bare minimum, as top sides came calling. The result was the team was ultimately relegated to the championship. Even in the domestic league, 'richer' sides have always bullied the less monied clubs as they raid them for top talent. Francistown-based side, TAFIC has been the stand-out performer in the just-ended FNB Premiership season. They came agonisingly close to winning their first title, pipped to the line by Gaborone United, who wrapped their 10-league crown last weekend.
One of TAFIC's best seasons, arguably second only to the 2002 campaign when they won the Coca-Cola Cup, could come at a price. Long before the season ended, there were talks some of their players were being tapped by rivals, with focus on captain Kemoneetswe Mmangwedi, Shaun Philip, Jean Lwamba, and Manda Nongo. There have also been reports of coach, Elias Chinyemba joining a local team. TAFIC chairperson, Tebogo Toteng refused to talk to MmegiSport bizarrely claiming 'you have never shown any interest in our team the whole season.' MmegiSport had wanted to know if the side anticipates an exodus and what plans are in place to ensure the club remains competitive in the event some key members depart. Nongo and Lwamba were amongst nominees for Player of the Season for the FNB Premiership awards held on Wednesday night whilst Mmangwedi, along with Shanganani Ngada, were nominated for the Best Defender award. Kazadi Gauthier was placed amongst the Young Player of the Season nominees, whilst Tshepo Mooketsi got the nod as a nominee for the Goalkeeper of the Season award.
Nongo also got another nomination for midfielder of the season, whilst Lwamba emerged as the league's top goal-scorer with 15 goals, alongside Gaborone United's Thatayaone Kgamanyane.