Rollers, Police XI resolve players� impasse
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Thursday November 5, 2015 15:22
The players were initially barred from facing their parent club, but after a meeting, the two will only face Rollers in the Mascom Top 8 cup and not the beMOBILE Premiership.
Police XI chairperson, Solomon Mantswe said it was in the best interest of the players and the two clubs to solve the matter amicably.
The two players are on a season-long loan from Rollers. Gadibolae in particular played last Saturday in the first leg of the Mascom Top 8 quarterfinal and scored the first goal for Police XI when they lost 4-2.
There was a misunderstanding however between the two teams with Rollers arguing that they had agreed that the players will not face them.
Police XI on the other hand contended that what Rollers were saying was not what was agreed between the two clubs.
The Botswana Premier League (BPL) chief executive officer, Bennett Mamelodi mediated, and the two clubs have agreed that the players could play in the Mascom Top 8 against Rollers but will sit out of the two beMOBILE Premier League matches.
“We agreed that since Gadibolae has already played in the first leg, they can continue playing in the second leg but will not face Rollers in league matches. It was in the best interest of the players and the two clubs,” Mantswe said yesterday.
Mantswe also said they considered that Rollers could have looked for an option to recall the players from loan and that would have meant them sitting on the sidelines until January.
“We decided that we will not blame each other. Rollers could have protested and maybe lost the protest or won but so what. We had to sit down and solve the issue amicably because we both looked at the interests of the players,” he said.
Rollers spokesperson, Bafana Pheto said the issue emanated from the fact that Police XI had not followed what was agreed regarding the use of players.
He, however, confirmed they solved the issue through a compromise in which the players can be used against them in the second leg of the Mascom Top 8.
The BPL released a statement confirming the solution of the matter following Mamelodi’s mediation efforts.
“We wish to advise that the matter was settled and resolved amicably in the spirit of compromise and reconciliation by both parties and it follows therefore that both Gadibolae and Mathe shall not be available to Police XI in respect of Match number 104 and Match number 220 of the beMOBILE Premiership this season.
But they shall be available for use by Police XI in the Mascom Top 8 quarterfinals second leg against Township Rollers on Sunday 22 November 2015,” Mamelodi said in a statement. The two teams meet next Saturday in the league at the Molepolole Sports Complex.