Rollers saga exposes club licencing gaps
Mqondisi Dube | Monday October 6, 2025 09:32
On Thursday last week, Township Rollers failed to fulfil its fixture against Calendar Stars as players boycotted the game over unpaid salaries.
The situation at one of the country's glamour clubs is so dire, with reports that players had to endure several months without receiving their dues.
Just before the season started, Rollers and the rest of the FNB Premiership passed the First Instance Body (FIB) process to grant licences.
Amongst requirements, clubs should not owe players and present financial statements. However, just days into the new season, an enduring habit has hit the local game after Rollers players down tools over salary issues.
There are many other pending cases of clubs failing to honour their contractual obligations, leaving players with no option but to seek redress in courts.
In March, the FUB wrote to the Botswana Football Association (BFA) National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC), raising concerns over clubs' failure to comply with the dispute resolution body's orders.
Several clubs had failed to comply with the NDRC's chambers, resulting in the FUB writing to the body to seek clarity. In a letter dated March 26, 2025, the Union's legal department wanted to know why there was non-compliance with valid orders.
But FIB chairperson Phazha Butale, in a recent interview with MmegiSport, defended his body amidst criticism that it was being too lenient, which renders club licensing a futile exercise.
He said there was a communication error which saw clubs that have overdue payables granted licences.
'The FIB is very independent and consists of professionals with high levels of integrity. There is no undue influence from any quarter. We would not allow such,' Butale clarified.
'There is no leniency; all parties agreed that all clubs owing should make good. The BFL will ensure that,' he added.
There is controversy surrounding club licencing, with former FIB chairperson, Leviet Ntwaagae, alleging the process was circumvented to suit certain clubs.
Ntwaagae and his committee were removed and replaced by a new administration led by Butale. The former chairperson accused BFA CEO, Mfolo Mfolo, of orchestrating their removal.
Mfolo denied the charge and has declined to comment on the matter.
Ntwaagae said he was in the process of writing to FIFA after raising complaints to CAF over the handling of Club Licencing in Botswana.
Meanwhile, the BFL has said the wheels are in motion to deal with the matter of the cancelled game between Rollers and Calendar Stars.
'We are waiting on the prosecutor to lay the necessary charges against Rollers, who will then appear before the Disciplinary Committee.
'It is our desire that this be concluded before the league resumes after the international break,' BFL CEO, Billy Sekgororoane told MmegiSport yesterday.