Rollers’ business model set for overhaul as debts mount
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday October 27, 2025 15:28
The committee took office a fortnight ago at a tense Special General Meeting held in Palapye, a sitting many within the Rollers fraternity described as a make-or-break for the club’s future.
For a side that once dominated both on and off the field, these are humbling times.
The club has parted ways with its fourth management partner in just three years and, worryingly, players have reportedly gone for three months without pay.
Despite putting in admirable performances on the pitch, the financial turbulence hit a boiling point when Rollers failed to honour their home fixture against Calendar Stars.
The non appearance came after players staged a “tools down” protest over unpaid wages.
Speaking to MmegiSport, Rollers’ public relations officer, Katokato Freeman, did not mince his words about the club’s troubles.
He confirmed that the team faces a 'financial situation' and admitted that the debt column continues to grow.
“The Rollers' debt is huge. As of today, we keep receiving notifications on debts from previous years. Some of these we had thought had been cleared, but now (we're here).
“These include the debts owed to former coaches and players. We are still accumulating these debts and we will be in a better position to say the amount. What I can say is, the debt is very huge,” said Freeman.
Sources close to the club peg the outstanding debt at around P2.2 million, although Freeman declined to confirm the figure.
He noted that more liabilities continue to surface as the club undergoes a leadership handover.
“We are to meet the outgoing committee this week and amongst the things they need to hand over are the bank accounts, employment contracts and all this all part of the handover. This will also include the strides they had already made with this potential investor. They would need to hand-hold us to the new people so we can resume where they left off,” he explained.
Freeman hinted that the new committee is considering a revamp of the club’s business structure to make it more attractive to investors whilst ensuring financial sustainability.
Rollers’ current model allocates 80% ownership to financiers and 20% to club members, an arrangement that has often sparked debate amongst supporters over control and transparency.
Freeman revealed that a full takeover model may be on the table, but any major decision will first be directed by the club membership.
“Our committee aligns well with the club's constitution and we also seek legal-based advice on the constitution so we can make informed decisions. But what we have realised is that our constitution has a lot of loopholes that may lead us into making alterations.
“But Rollers club is the property of the membership, so we cannot make any decision without being mandated by the membership or the constitution.”
He added that the interim leadership plans to return to the general membership soon after the transition process to seek directives on how best to navigate the crisis.
“We have agreed as the committee that after we conclude the handover, we will return to the general membership, so we can get directives from them on how we can best improve the situation of the club,” said Freeman.
“This is not to say that we as the new committee do not have our own thoughts. But we are merely saying to the membership that we have been doing things in this manner, and we are only proposing and recommending that we tweak things around, and change a bit the model we have been using since it has not always given out pleasing outcomes.”
For now, the club’s immediate focus is to stabilise relations with the players and restore calm in the dressing room. Freeman said the committee has been in constant contact with the playing unit, who have since resumed training after their brief strike action.
“They have the belief in us and they fully understand our situation. We have hope that we will soon find a solution. We do not have a timeframe but December would be a bit far, like I am saying we are having sleepless nights and the people we are talking to are very responsive,” he said.
As the iconic blue-and-gold institution stares down one of its toughest chapters, Rollers’ faithful will be hoping that the new leadership can deliver not just survival but a genuine revival of Popa’s once proud legacy.