Rollers to slash wages ahead of next season
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday June 29, 2026 06:00
The move comes at a time when the record league champions are navigating one of the toughest financial periods in recent years, having also lost premier sponsor Sunbet Botswana, whose agreement expires at the end of July. Speaking to MmegiSport, Township Rollers secretary-general Ofentse Mosekiemang admitted the club's financial position remains fragile, forcing the executive committee to rethink its spending model.
'In the past, we have faced difficult challenges with the finances, but currently our financial status is very low. We still have an issue of debts, debts emanating from players' and coaches' salaries, and other service providers who have been with us. But we are in contact with them, and we have since apologised and asked for some bit of time; we will eventually pay them. We are working hard to source some sponsorships and investors,' he said.
Mosekiemang noted that one of the club's priorities is bringing the wage bill under control, adding that supporters should expect a more financially disciplined Rollers next season.
'Coming to the new season, we would encourage the Rollers supporters that the executive committee is working hard to rectify the situation at the club. We promise that, coming to the 2026–2027 season, Township Rollers will be a much better team in terms of administration and bringing stability to the club financially.
'We are working hard to lower our wage bill. It is too high, and coming into the next season, we are hoping to bring it down by correcting a few things we have not done well. We are very optimistic that our wage bill will be manageable, especially in this economy, so supporters must not be shocked that the club wants to reduce the wage bill,' he added.
Besides trimming expenditure, Rollers are also working to resolve the FIFA transfer ban imposed over an outstanding debt owed to former head coach, Abdel Karkache.
Mosekiemang said negotiations with the coach and his representatives are continuing in the hope of lifting the sanction before the transfer window gathers momentum.
'The FIFA ban is not yet lifted, and we are still negotiating with the coach we owe so that we can make a payment plan, hoping to agree so that the ban can be lifted. We are still engaging with the coach and his agent together with his lawyers,' he noted.
The transfer ban has complicated the club's preparations for the new campaign, although Mosekiemang said the executive remains optimistic that the issue will be resolved.
He also indicated that the club hopes to retain the technical team that guided Rollers through the previous campaign.
'We are still to meet with the technical team and map the way forward. But our anticipation is that pre-season should start in the first week of July, although we are still to confirm that. We are happy with the technical team that we ended the season with, and we hope that we would continue with them going forward,' he said.
Despite the financial hurdles, Mosekiemang insisted the executive committee remains committed to rebuilding the club on a sustainable footing.
With sponsorship negotiations ongoing, efforts to settle outstanding debts and plans to reduce expenditure, Rollers are hoping the difficult decisions taken during the off-season will lay the foundation for a more stable future both on and off the pitch.