Motlakase dump Swallows ground
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Monday June 2, 2014 17:34
The club has registered the Serowe Sports Complex as their home ground for next season. Both Motlakase and relegated Miscellaneous used the Swallows facility as their home ground last season.
The venue attracted a lot of negativity with many saying it has lowered the standards of the elite league. However, the Botswana Premier League managers were unmoved and proceeded to crown champions, Township Rollers at the ground.
With Miscellaneous now in the First Division, only Motlakase were going to use the venue next season as their home ground. However it emerged at the BPL general assembly on Saturday that Serowe Sports Complex will be available in July. Motlakase have since registered it as their home ground.
BPL chief executive officer, Bennett Mamelodi has said despite the negative attention attracted by Swallows Ground last season, they staged games there primarily because it was a resolution of the Botswana Football Association (BFA).
He said both Miscellaneous and Motlakase were able to generate much needed revenue from playing their home matches there.
The two sides used to play their home games at either Selebi- Phikwe Stadium or Francistown Stadium before switching to the Swallows facility. Miscellaneous at some point used Itekeng Stadium in Orapa. Mamelodi said they have been advised that by next month, the Serowe Sports Complex will be available for use.
Mamelodi said the shortage of playing venues will not be a problem next season because a number of ‘extra’ facilities will be available. These include Otse Stadium. “We are still waiting the final confirmation on the availability of the Otse Stadium which we expect anytime from now.
Maun Sports Complex has been declared available for use by Sankoyo Bush Bucks for their home games. We therefore do not anticipate any challenges next season with regards to stadia,” Mamelodi briefed delegates at the BPL general assembly.
Though the BPL managers have been patting themselves on the back for finishing the competition on time, Mochudi Centre Chiefs representative at the assembly, Sebele Morakanyane has added a twist to the narrative.
He said the season ended on time at the expense of certain clubs. He said the challenges faced by shortage of stadia saw the spirit of fair play lacking last season. “We had some of our games postponed when we least expected because of unavailability of stadiums.
When we tried to chip in and assist, we were snubbed,” he said. He said at some point, they were denied an opportunity to use Jwaneng Stadium because they were told it was not suitable for Premier League matches.
He wondered how Palapye Swallows Ground could be deemed suitable for Premier League matches while Jwaneng Stadium is not.