Divisions thwart Rollers peace efforts
Mqondisi Dube | Friday October 9, 2015 18:00
A weekend special general meeting had appeared to paper deep divisions, but it has emerged interim committee members are pulling in different directions. This comes despite presenting a united front at the Saturday meeting.
Rollers members tasked the interim committee with engaging estranged Township Holdings directors, Jagdish Shah and Sommerset Gobuiwang.
Gobuiwang has reportedly indicated he wants to retain control at the club after a fall-out with Shah.
Shah is close to issuing an ultimatum as he wants to see a speedy conclusion to the drawn-out saga, which has divided the popular giants.
The meeting between the committee with Gobuiwang did not yield much according to sources, and equally there was not much headway when the committee met Shah on Wednesday. Both Shah and Gobuiwang were not invited to the special general meeting last Saturday, but the latter attended and sat at the top table.
Shah told Mmegi Sport that the interim committee met him on Wednesday and asked that he hands over the company affairs to the society. The other aspect on the agenda was to map the way forward. Interim committee co-chairperson, Spencer Mmui, led proceedings at this stage with his counterpart, Walter Kgabung arriving late for the meeting.
“I explained everything relating to the expenses, finances, sponsorships and some of the documentation was handed over. There were few questions raised and I explained. I also gave them the estimated budget for 2015/2016 and projected income.
I told them I wanted a resolution to confirm that I had handed over the club. When the co-chair, Kgabung arrived, he was surprised that there was an agenda about handover.
“It was not supposed to be a handover but we were supposed to talk about the way forward.
They caucused in my absence and apologised about the handover issue. They said they wanted me to continue and they will write me a letter in this regard. I will wait for the letter to see what they are asking me to do,” he said.
“I suspect the letter will ask me to continue although I don’t know for how long. But I am now confused about their objective. The mandate the committee was given at the special general meeting was not even discussed.
I am literally confused and frustrated. I have nurtured this child (Rollers) and it’s very difficult to dump it.
I will be sad to go, but I am not here to impose myself. If they want me I am here but if not, I will withdraw.
“I know the size of this project and I know the challenges. I know there are some people who will blame me, but they should know it’s the interim committee that will have chosen its way,” he said.
Shah said he was never invited to the special general meeting. “Again the interim committee never came to brief me after the meeting. They say they want me but there is no correlation with their actions,” Shah said.
Kgabung admitted there are divisions, but said they are working towards finding a solution.
“We understand how Shah works. We know what he wants for the team, but I cannot speak for the other team,” Kgabung said.
He said the target is to find a solution at the earliest possible time, although it is apparent stumbling blocks are still on the way.
Another meeting with Shah has been scheduled early next week as efforts to bring stability to the club continue. Gobuiwang has preferred not to discuss the issue since a fall-out between the two became public.