Struggling ECCO suspend coach
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Wednesday April 9, 2014 10:43
Molapi’s assistant, Oupa Kowa has been roped in to hold fort until the end of the season. The changes have been made by the executive committee following a recommendation by the technical team.
The technical committee is said to have requested Molapi to provide reports of recent games after a series of poor performances. However, he did not provide the reports, prompting his suspension. ECCO vice-chairperson, Mothibedi Latlhang said the decision was taken to see if Kowa can rescue the situation with three matches remaining before the end of the campaign.
He said the team needs immediate improvement lest they find themselves in the lower division next season.
He said that the technical committee will in the meantime investigate why Molapi has not provided reports as requesting by the technical committee.
ECCO are 10th in the standings with 31 points, the same as BMC and Orapa United who occupy positions 11 and 12. Uniao Flamengo Santos, at position 15 have 26 points and can finish the season with 35 if they win all their remaining games. ECCO have won just eight matches this season and are likely to finish outside the top eight, something that has not happened since they gained promotion in 2007. They will play Orapa United, BDF XI and Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the remaining games. Molapi had been the assistant coach at the team for many years before finally taking over last season.
“It is not a good position that we find ourselves in right now. Most of the teams at the bottom can still finish above us if we continue losing games,” Latlhang said. ECCO who for many years have enjoyed financial support from Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) have to fend for themselves after the company stopped sponsoring them this year. Although they have been trying to talk to potential investors, they have hit a brick wall.
“Business people have not shown interest in financing the team. Maybe it is because they do not know our history and because of the number of supporters we have,” Latlhang said yesterday.
He said it takes time to get sponsors because most of the companies they approach have branches only in Francistown with headquarters in Gaborone where the decision makers are based.