Money, new talent fail to fire Gunners
Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 29, 2014 15:19
Extension Gunners has avid followers from the foot of the Peleng Hills to the sprawling suburb of Monarch in Francistown, hundreds of kilometres away. But the famous crossing guns representing the aspirations of many black and white fans on the team’s logo have failed to fire for several years. In fact, fighting relegation and performing annual Houdini acts has become part of an unwanted agenda at the club. A team that has legendary stories of success in the 1990s has crumbled and languishes in mangled wreckage, which can only be untangled by the ‘jaws of life’.
The club has found an irritant in persistent financial challenges which every season appears ready to sound the death knell. The black and white family will be wary of cases where the finance cancer succeeded to knock out some opponents and has presently manifested itself in the body of ECCO City Greens. ECCO were left scrambling for crumbs after BMC pulled the plug on a lengthy partnership.
Despite being an undisputed football institution in Botswana, ‘Guna Guna’ or ‘Mapantsula’ have found it difficult to attract assured financial backing.
At the beginning of the season, the club appeared headed for financial salvation when a P2 million per season deal was announced. The club quickly snapped one of the most wanted players Topo Piet from Nico United while the talented Moemedi ‘Jomo’ Moatlhaping arrived as a free agent after a tumultuous stay at Gaborone United. The new arrivals complimented existing talent in Kelelelo Kgosimore, skipper Monageng Thaele, veteran defender, Finkie ‘Mathousand’ Mothibi and midfielder, Tshepo ‘Schoolboy’ Molefe in what appeared a competent side.
Money plus new talent was thought to be the right ingredients to galvanise the misfiring machine. Gunners appeared ready to return to the glory days or at least to find a solution to the perennial relegation equation. But a shattering 7-0 demolition at the hands of Township Rollers in the Kabelano Cup punctured soaring expectations. A sense of de javu blasted through Lobatse as replays of past seasons flashed by. Coach, Dragjlo Stanlojovic, often ridiculed in some sectors, looked lost after the pre-season Rollers defeat with talk that he was due for an early exit.
A team that transforms each venue into a sea of black and white, opened their 2014/2015 account with a 2-0 reversal at the hands of Mochudi Centre Chiefs before an empty New Lobatse Stadium. The club was serving a ban after crowd trouble rocked their Premier League clash against GU last season.
Their next match, also played in Lobatse saw them face defending champions, Township Rollers and a hearty performance had seemingly earned them their first three points of the season. However, a horrible last minute blunder from goalkeeper, Wagarre Dikago, saw Gunners snatch a draw from the jaws of victory. Otlantshekela Mooketsi equalised from a meek effort to break Gunners’ hearts. Mapantsula had pinned their opponents for much of the match raising hope it was a turnaround in fortunes. Gunners have only that one point from Rollers after three outings, as it fell 2-1 to minnows, BR Highlanders last weekend.
The manner in which the team has often sparkled against strong sides and surrendered timidly against featherweights has left fans wondering.
It might be early season but Gunners have already produced the kind of start sure to scare their followers into believing it is going to be a familiar campaign of last minute dodge of the relegation. Currently, Gunners occupy one of the three relegation spots.
What makes the pain of Mapantsula supporters unbearable is watching sworn rivals, Chiefs, GU and Rollers rotate laying their hands on silverware, particularly in the last six seasons.
Gunners chairperson, Kitso Dlamini believes the players are yet to gel although its clear what they want to achieve. “Players need to understand each other and communicate through football. They have not gelled but you can see they are doing something. We have recruited players we feel are good and lobbied for financial assistance. That’s where you start,” Dlamini said. He said history shows that Gunners had a strong squad prior to their three successive titles in the 1990s, but almost relegated that season before finding success.
“We are looking for quick fix solutions but you never know if they are quick fix. Results will tell you.”