Investors circle over troubled Gunners
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 30, 2026 09:43
Interest in the Lobatse giants is steadily building, but uncertainty within the club’s leadership and structures remains a major stumbling block.
Potential investors are circling, yet holding back, waiting for signs of stability before committing. Reports are that investors are ready to splash the cash, but the environment at the club is not conducive yet.
Former interim chairperson and now board member, Gerald Mahumba, revealed that whilst there is no shortage of interest, confidence in the club must first be restored.
“The investors are here. There are quite a few, and they are willing to come on board. However, they are keeping a watchful eye on proceedings at Gunners. They are assessing the situation in the club and questioning whether they should come on board now or later,” he said.
“Some are already in line to open talks with us, but we need to first resolve our internal issues so that we have something concrete and stable to present to them.”
At the heart of the crisis lies weak corporate governance, an issue that Mahumba admitted the club is grappling with and is working on resolving. He said these challenges emanate from poor corporate governance amongst club membership.
“Our governance structures are weak. They are not strong, particularly our constitution, in clearly demarcating levels of responsibility and authority so that everyone understands their roles,” he added.
Mahumba warned that failure to address these shortcomings could have serious consequences, including poorly structured agreements and financial risk.
“Contracts with stakeholders need to be clear and balanced. They should not only benefit those coming in, whilst (they are) disadvantaging the club. “If we do not manage these agreements well, we risk investors walking away and leaving us with debts and legal battles that could even result in sanctions,” he said.
Mahumba also stressed the importance of protecting player welfare, cautioning against rushed decisions driven by desperation for funding.
“We cannot agree to anything hastily. We must follow due process to protect the brand and the interests of our players, because they are key employees of the club,” he stated.
The governance concerns echo sentiments raised by former chairman Solomon Ramochothwane, whose resignation last week exposed deep fractures within the club.
In a scathing parting message, Ramochothwane described a toxic environment marked by infighting, misinformation, and persistent interference, arguing that leadership was being undermined even after democratic processes.
He warned that internal divisions, entitlement amongst members, and factional battles were derailing progress and weakening the club from within. Efforts are now underway to restore unity. A high-level meeting involving elders, branch leadership, supporters, and the advisory board has been convened on Wednesday, with stakeholders agreeing to nullify all suspensions and pursue reconciliation as a path forward.
However, the instability has already triggered further leadership changes, with Mahumba stepping down from the interim chairperson role to assume a board position.
On the other hand, Karabo Keogotsitse takes over as the new interim chairperson in an attempt to steady the ship.
Beyond structural weaknesses, Mahumba acknowledged a deeper cultural problem within the club.
“We need to build capacity and educate our membership on leadership and management. Gunners rarely do that,” he said. “We tend to believe that once someone is elected, they are automatically capable. But many of us bring a supporter mentality into leadership, and that leads to a situation where everyone wants to call the shots. That is what creates anarchy and collapses the structure.”
The situation at Extension Gunners reflects a broader national concern. Speaking in Parliament this week, Goodhope-Mmathethe Member of Parliament Dr Edwin Dikoloti warned about the decline of traditional football institutions, attributing it to outdated governance models.
“We cannot have Rollers and Gunners not doing well and expect the economy to flourish,” he said, calling for a review of the society-based structure commonly used by local clubs.