Mapantsula back with a bang
Lekopanye Mooketsi | Monday June 23, 2014 14:50
On Saturday, the Club’s executive committee briefed the annual general meeting about the team receiving a P2 million cash injection from the Dada and Ismail families.
The general membership welcomed the new development at the annual general meeting that was held at the Lobatse Civic Centre.
In fact Extension Gunners supporters have not been so excited for a long time. In the past, they had to watch in agony as their team played second fiddle to other local football giants like Township Rollers and Centre Chiefs.
For over two decades, Extension Gunners have been struggling and dodging relegation by a hair’s breadth due to lack of resources. But according to officials, this will now be history as the team plans to challenge for the league championship.
“The atmosphere was electrifying and our members were quite happy about the new developments,” is how Gunners chairman, Kitso Dlamini described their meeting. Compared to the past meetings where there was chaos, he said this one was quite peaceful.
The meeting was also attended by members of the Lobatse business community and town’s leadership.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Africa Youth Games Organising Committee (BAYGOC), Tuelo Serufho officiated at the meeting. Two Lobatse companies, Lobatse Clay Works and Cumberland Hotel that have been sponsoring the team, were honoured at the meeting.
Lobatse Clays works has been sponsoring the team with transport while Cumberland Hotel offered accommodation during home games. The two companies were each presented with a large jersey signed by Gunners players and certificates of appreciation.
Although there were no elections, some positions in the executive committee were filled up and additional members were also co-opted. Some of the positions that were filled included that of secretary general, public relations officer and the treasurer.
The new secretary general is Ian Kebopetswe, while Keoagile Motseotsile is the team spokesman and the treasurer is Goitsi Jacoba. Even the appointment of Orayyah Dada as the chief executive officer of the Extension Gunners Holdings (Pty) Ltd, was also rectified at the meeting.
Dlamini said they have informed the supporters that instead of being complacent because of the financial boost, they will have to double their efforts to ensure that the team stays at the top. He said they would also have to intensify their fund raising efforts.
Dlamini said their ambition is to win the league, come what may. But he said in order to achieve this mission, there are also off the field factors that have to be considered. “We have to teach our supporters that we are not going to tolerate hooliganism.” The Gunners official said they are going to throw the book at any supporter who brings the team’s name into disrepute. He said they are also going to beef up security at their games.
Meanwhile, the new CEO of Extension Gunners Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Dada said she was excited about her new position. Dada said she wants to make a difference at Extension Gunners which she describes as a family team.
She added that of course there is going to be some hard work and sacrifice. “But hard work never killed anyone,” she said. The CEO said there is no doubt that she is going to make it because of the team that is around her. “With their guidance and support we will succeed,” she asserted.
“We all have one vision and that vision is succeed,” she said.