Is Molapi the fall guy at ECCO?
Chakalisa Dube | Friday April 11, 2014 11:58
Early this week, ECCO slapped Molapi with suspension for the reminder of the be MOBILE Premier League season for poor performance.
Since 2007, the club has not finished outside the top eight but it now lies 10th with three games to go. Sources at the club this week said that the coach was made a scapegoat by management for the poor form.
They claim Molapi was not to blame for the state of affairs. Insiders at the club said since the beginning of the season, the coach has maintained that the club needed seasoned players in order to be competitive. “He was denied the opportunity to sign the players he wanted on the basis that the club has no funds,” said a source.
ECCO has struggled upfront with striker Omaatla Kebatho sidelined after an injury early this season.
Though the club lost seasoned players such as Mmoloki Kafuko, Patrick Lenyeletse, Ontse Ntesa and Lesego Lubinda in the off-season it made no replacements. “The club is wrong to suspend Molapi. The club failed to sign the players who can compete. Now they are blaming the coach.
The club only signed players in January. Although the Ghanaian striker and Chippa arrived in January, it was still not enough as the club needed more players especially in attacking positions,” a source said.
It is understood, the players’ morale is very low at ECCO because of late payment of salaries. Players received salaries late prior to their encounter against TAFIC which they won 2-0. “There is a lot of uncertainty at the club at the moment because the team does not have sponsors. This might be affecting the morale of the players who are worried about their future, which translates into poor form on the field but all the blame goes to the coach,” said a source.
ECCO chairman Mothibedi Latlhang denied that the club failed Molapi. “All the players we released were not regulars apart from Lenyeletse. Yes the club has a problem with its budget to buy new players but I am convinced that the club could have done better than its current performance.
My view is that the current players can compete,” he said. He admitted that at one point, the club paid players late but argued that this was due to administration hiccups.