Job dilemma might force Sox to quit soccer
Lekopanye Mooketsi | Friday July 18, 2014 12:12
He said his employers are prepared to release him an hour earlier in exchange for less pay. Molwantwa said he has spoken to the Notwane management to negotiate with his employers, so that the team could compensate him for the pay he would lose at work for leaving early. However, he claims that the Notwane management has not done anything. “I don’t have time. I knock off late. In the past, I made arrangements with my employers to knock off earlier. But I was losing some benefits at work. Notwane is not doing anything about it,” he said. “At my age I am concerned about my welfare,” said the 36-year-old former Botswana international.
He said this is why he has not been training since the end of last season because by the time he reaches the training ground, it is already late.
He said since he does not have any issue with Notwane, he can still play for team if they can sort out his predicament.
Molwantwa said if no team comes to his rescue, he has no option but to retire from the game because he cannot sacrifice his formal job.
Although he is considered a Notwane player, the veteran striker said he has no contract with the team after the Gift Mogapi debacle. He said he is open to offers from any team that can bail him out. He said he can still play for a season or two. Notwane’s new public relations officer, Podi Mooki said he does not know about Molwantwa’s issue.
The player was discovered when he was still a student at Ledumang Secondary School in the early 1990s. By then, his school clinched the Coca-Cola schools tournament, through his exploits. He went to set the soccer scene ablaze when he joined Township Rollers after completing school in the mid 1990s. He became one of the deadliest strikers in the country. After playing for the junior national sides, he was selected to the senior squad where he partnered with the recently retired Diphetogo Selolwane. The duo formed an awesome combination that was a menace to defenders. Molwantwa recalls that every time when he had scored, Selolwane would also rattle the net.
Molwantwa reminisces about his days at Township Rollers where he won everything on offer. One of his best games for Rollers was the 4-0 demolition of Police XI 4-0 in a Coca-Cola Cup duel. The striker scored all the goals in the match. “This was my last game for Popa,” he said.
Unfortunately, he laments that at Notwane, he has not tasted any silverware. Molwantwa joined Notwane in 2007 following a fall out with Rollers officials. At Toronto, he has not been as deadly like before. His move to a new team also signaled the end of national team call-ups.
Molwantwa said he had a good time with the national squad especially under coach, Jelusic Veselin. One of his memorable matches for the national team was when they beat Malawi 3-0 in 2006. Molwantwa who was the captain, got the first goal before Selolwane struck. His last match for the Zebras was in 2007. Molwantwa was delighted to receive an invitation to take part in Selolwane’s testimonial match last weekend.