BTTA dismiss unfair play reports
Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday February 17, 2016 14:49
Players reportedly learnt of fixtures at the 11th hour. “They use social media to communicate, if you are not in one of those platforms you are doomed. At times, we receive calls on match day notifying us on our fixtures. This has an impact on our performances this season,” said one player on condition of anonymity.
The player further said they are not given reasons why the league committee is still using social media, which is not accessible to every player.
However league chairperson, Kudzanani Motswagole told Mmegi Sport the league committee releases all the necessary information concerning the league early in the week. “We give team officials the fixtures, results and log standings mostly on Mondays so they could inform their players well in time,” he said.
He further said they use the social media to communicate with the public in general and some of the players who might miss information from their respective teams.
“This is a collective effort, we do our part, the officials perform theirs. The players should also play their role. They should not just wait for us to give them the information. It is their responsibility to ask for that information too,” Motswagole said. He said they have not received any formal compliant from the clubs or the players.
Smash Maniacs club secretary general, Matshidiso Osi shared the same sentiments as Motswagole.
She said the officials are doing voluntary work and should be met half way. She however acknowledged that it disadvantages the players to rely on social media, but as a club they are yet to approach the league committee with new suggestions. “When the team manager is not active players are at a disadvantage, they will have to learn about some issues on social media, and (this) may have an impact in terms of their performances,” Osi said.
Meanwhile defending champion, Boitshwarelo Butale is on course to defend her title as she leads the women’s league with 24 points, two points ahead of second-placed Osi. The Maniacs’ star will need to continue her unbeaten streak as she just needs a win in the two remaining games to clinch the title. In the men’s section, Thobo Matlhatsi and Kola Modisaotsile are in first and second place respectively, locked at 21 points each. The two players have tougher assignments in the last matches of the year. Matlhatsi faces long-time rival and the country’s top seed Bonolo Mabote who sits in third position with 19 points. Mabote hopes his rivals falter so that he can set a grand finale with Matlhatsi. Modisaotsile on the other hand will lock horns with the country’s third-placed Kennete Santudu who is enduring a poor form in the league. The winners walk away with P5,000, the runner ups with P3,500 while the one in third place will pocket P1,500.