F�town leaders in blame game over local teams support
Chakalisa Dube | Friday May 29, 2015 11:41
Muzila made the accusation in her speech to the full council meeting here on Wednesday. In turn specially nominated councillor, Andy Boatile turned the guns on the city authorities; blaming them of doing little to support local soccer teams. In her speech, city mayor Muzila had said the Francistown community was to blame for the poor performance and eventual demise of major football teams in the city.
She said members of the community have not been supporting Francistown major teams for years, which is why they have performed badly in the elite league.
Francistown is now without a team in the premier league, whereas it used to have the likes of TAFIC, Ecco City Greens, TASC and GNT drawing crowds to venues, especially the Francistown stadium.
Boatile argued that the city authorities, especially those at the city council, should take a greater portion of the blame for the teams’ poor showing.
“The city council should find a way in which it can partner with teams so that they become commercial entities and sustain themselves. The reason teams are not doing well is because they are struggling financially. “Sports, particularly football has become a great business. If the FCC can come up with a strategy to support teams, then the game can be commercialised to create employment,” he said.
He added that soccer should also be used to market the city and lure potential investors. Boatile added that the city’s civic leaders should also encourage members of the community to support teams in the city so that they thrive.
He further said the FCC should also consider partnering or supporting other sports codes in a bid to help them compete effectively.
Francistown Central councilor, Ephraim Maiketso concurred with Boatile, adding that it was vital for the FCC to partner with teams in order to help clubs improve their administration skills. Maiketso, a well-known former football match commissioner, said one of the reasons some teams failed was because their leaders lacked administrative skills.
“Other municipalities in countries such as South Africa have partnered with football teams in a bid to attract sponsors and as a way of boosting investment. “There is no Premier League team in Francistown with ECCO City Greens the last team to go down this season.
“Francistown teams have been performing badly in the elite league in recent years,” he revealed.