Was pushing out Pheto-led committee at Rollers justifiable?
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday October 17, 2025 12:35
Rollers' general membership gathered at Desert Sands Hotel in Palapye last Saturday, where the club's leadership officially stepped down, citing mounting pressure from members and a series of internal challenges. The club returned to Palapye a decade later after Rollers announced P6 million in profits from the 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
At the time, Rollers were enjoying their first 12 months with former club president and financier, Jagdish Shah. Almost a decade later, the club is plunged into dire financial constraints as allegations indicate a deficit of P2.2 million in debt. For over a decade, Jagdish Shah was the financial backbone of Township Rollers. Under his stewardship, the club enjoyed unprecedented success, both on and off the field. His departure in 2024 left a void that would prove difficult to fill. His reign brought a nine league trophy-laden and a maiden CAF Champions League group stages reach.
Following Shah's exit, Jimmy Haskins Kereng took the helm. However, his tenure was short-lived, lasting only a year. Despite initial optimism, the club continued to face financial instability and governance issues. Kereng's departure in 2025 marked the end of another chapter in Rollers' turbulent leadership history.
In July 2025, entrepreneur Tendani Sebata acquired an 80% stake in Township Rollers, injecting much-needed capital and hope into the club. Sebata's investment was seen as a fresh start, with promises of stability and growth. However, the partnership quickly soured.
Reports emerged of mounting debts, unpaid player salaries, and unfulfilled promises. By April 2025, Sebata had severed ties with the club, citing governance issues and misrepresentation of ownership structures. The abrupt end to this partnership left Rollers in a precarious position.
Having led Rollers in different structures and, most recently and in length holding the public relations officer position. Pheto assumed leadership during a period of instability, alongside his committee faced the Herculean task of stabilising the club. Despite their efforts, financial challenges persisted. The departure of Sebata left a significant gap, and the club struggled to secure new sponsorships and investments.
The executive committee ascended to power just after the COVID-19 phase. The period had led to sponsors, common with football and sport in general, pulling out of various commitments. After Sebata's departure, came in CAB Management. The company was instrumental in securing a P1.5 million deal from Sunbet Botswana, but had a fallout with the club leadership after unfulfilled promises.
The departing committee, in their final week, indicated they were close to concluding a deal with a potential investor and that a deal to be penned this week. However, the mounting pressure and internal challenges led to their resignation. Newly elected chairperson Nelson Onkabetse has vowed to continue from where the previous committee left off, focusing on stabilising the club's finances and securing new partnerships.
The recurring theme throughout these transitions is instability. Each leadership change brought promises of revitalisation, yet the club found itself facing similar challenges: financial instability, governance issues, and a lack of sustainable investment. The departure of each investor or leader has left Rollers in a cycle of rebuilding, with no lasting solution in sight.
Given the circumstances, Bafana Pheto's resignation in some corridors is questioned if it was a necessary step. The challenges faced during his tenure were not solely of their making but rather, they were the culmination of ongoing issues that predated to their leadership. However, the question remains: what will it take for Township Rollers to break free from this cycle and achieve lasting stability?
As the club moves forward under new leadership, the focus must shift from short-term fixes to long-term solutions. This includes transparent governance, sustainable financial planning, and a commitment to developing local talent. Only then can Township Rollers hope to reclaim their position as a financial powerhouse in the local football scene.