Notwane�s chase for glory yields fools� gold
Mqondisi Dube | Friday September 5, 2014 12:29
The fans have long deserted their seats on the terraces. A colossal institution is teetering on the brink of mediocrity. Notwane football club is no longer the same.
It is a pale shadow of a bully that brutally collected all trophies during a glittering era. But a weevil entered the giant and ate away its pedigree. As the club hobbled, financially stable rivals invaded the Notwane farm and harvested the best talent. It was a sight that left Toronto barren and even its famed development programme cannot solve the problem.
Pint-sized master of dribble, Pontsho Moloi found a home at a revitalised Mochudi Centre Chiefs before his dazzling brother, Dirang decamped. Keaoagetse ‘Barnes’ Radipotsane appeared an island in sea of average talent. He too abandoned the sinking titanic. Galabgwe Moyana’s cultured foot was unwittingly shipped to Chiefs in the unrelenting talent drain. Promising players appeared but hovering vultures were always ready to descend.
The dire financial situation and player departures left Notwane thoroughly exposed and weakened. Fighting relegation every season has become normal and the fans seem resigned to the new reality.
Gift Mogapi appeared God sent last season, only to disappear with the hopes of the club after failing to deliver on his financial promises.
Had in not been for a paltry P250 affiliation fee blunder by Police XI and Security Systems in 2012, Notwane would have or still be competing against the likes of Masitaoka and Killer Giants in the First Division. Despite being thrown a lifeline, the club has not appreciated the kiss of life as it hovers dangerously close to the relegation axe.
After beginning with a win over Gaborone United in the new season, doubts remained about Notwane’s ability to sustain the positive start. And they have predictably wandered into familiar murky waters after three consecutive defeats shoved them down to 14th spot, setting the stage for another relegation dogfight.
The Notwane of today, argues former midfielder, Fabian Zulu lacks character. He believes financial issues have always been there but during their time, they managed to stay focused on the pitch.
“One would go for months without pay, but you could not tell. We used to play for each other and it was difficult to pick a weak link although we were not entirely exceptional,” says Zulu, who went on to coach Notwane on an interim basis after it hit turbulence.
The gold and black side has found the going tough such that at the height of its problems, it almost failed to fulfill some fixtures.
Zulu says while money was not a huge motivation during their days, the situation is different today.
“Today, money is key,” he says.
Club secretary, Kitso Sedisa, the last chairperson to lead Toronto to league glory in 1998, argues money is key. Without money, he says it will take ages to turn around the fortunes of the Gaborone side.
“Poor performance is attributed to finance. Over the years, teams have improved their finances while Notwane did not. Our financial position has grown weak and weaker with time,” Sedisa says.
He says the development means Notwane cannot attract top talent. Instead, it has to scavenge in lower divisions while their rivals gobble the cream. Sedisa says the journey to ruin started after the 1998 triumph. He says after the success, supporters were keen to change management. After the committee was voted out, the club’s fortunes started to nose-dive.
“We could not maintain the momentum. The only way we can go back is to find money, which is a common denominator for all teams. We have to start with leadership that has the ability to attract funding for the team,” Sedisa says.
But is the situation dire?
“I am confident to say it is not as bad as it might appear. We have reason to be optimistic. This season, we have started with tough teams but we expect to improve. We hope the players we signed develop quickly,” he says.
Paul Moyo, coach of the crack side of the 1990s which swept all silverware on offer locally and reached the round of 16 in the Africa Cup of Club Champions before it was renamed CAF Champions League says a sound management is what drove Notwane in those days.
“The quality of the management was the key behind the success of the team. The leadership was brilliant. Money issues were always there but they were properly managed,” Moyo says.
He says the management could get the best out of the team even with limited financial resources. The veteran coach notes that Notwane has always had top talent and recruitment in the past was top notch.
“Recruitment was always positive, but that has changed. It is a free for all at the moment. Anybody can come up with who ever they want. The best the club can do (to return to glory days) is to appoint the right personnel and find a reliable sponsor,” Moyo advises.
Notwane still holds the proud record of being the only Botswana side to reach the round of 16 in an African club competition.