TAFIC's love-hate affair with elite league persists
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday June 19, 2020 13:35
At times it has been orthodox, but this time, it was unorthodox after a decision to declare the season complete with 10 games to spare.
A ‘giant’ has taken what is becoming a regular fall, meaning it is all back to square one for the ‘city of all things precious’, as Francistown is fondly known.
The majestic Obed Itani Chilume Stadium is already preparing for many lonely days and nights ahead.
Football’s newest facility, which has proved to be the citadel and darling of local football, would now hope the irregular Zebras games provide the much-needed company.
TAFIC would return to their home base for lower division matches, the Francistown Council Stadium.
While tears might start to flow down the cheeks of many avid TAFIC supporters, the team’s Premiership obituary was long authored even before the Francistown side played their first game of the season.
TAFIC were confirmed relegated following the Botswana Football Association’s (BFA) decision to declare the season complete on Sunday.
Ndipe Ndikupe endured a lacklustre campaign highlighted by the usual money problems, which have, in the past, sent the team packing from the elite league.
In the past decade, the Francistowners have been yo-yoing between the top and second tier leagues.
The opening weeks of the campaign were an indication of TAFIC’s lack of readiness as they registered upsetting results. They only managed to bag their first win after five games, in a match against Miscellaneous.
BFA’s Sunday decision has divided football, and is particularly a bitter pill for the Francistown Reds.
However, it is apparent that Matjimenyenga did not tick all the essential boxes when they returned to the Premiership at the start of the season.
The club returned without a sponsor. The usual donors had dwindled, after their heroics in the First Division, which ensured a quick return to the Premiership.
Francistown’s economy was adversely affected by the closure of mines a few years ago, and most companies have thus failed to come to TAFIC’s rescue.
Club secretary, Forster Machola appreciated that on return, they found the Premiership expenses too high. He revealed their downfall was returning to the elite league relying solely on the grants.
Unfortunately, he said, they found the grants were reduced from P50, 000 in their previous premiership appearance to P12, 500 monthly grant. “The grant could not even meet the coach’s salary. At times, it came in halves or skipped at other months. The season was a crisis for the team,” he revealed.
Machola said gate takings too, could not sustain the team. The highest amount they cashed was P30, 000, after paying expenses, in the first game against Orapa and never came close to the amount again.
The stoppage of football activities robbed TAFIC of a chance of making cash from their clash against the league’s cash cow, Township Rollers, who were supposed to be their next opponents.
The worst of the gate takings they received was P34 away to Gilport Lions, after they had spent P17,000 preparing for the match.
“Our coffers depleted and we could no longer afford camps after that match. We resorted to travelling to Gaborone in the morning on the day of the game, and returned after the match,” he said.
“It caused massive fatigue to the players and the congestion of fixtures added to our gloom. It was taxing for us to play midweek and weekends without a budget.”
He said the club struggled to pay players’ salaries, which affected the team’s morale.
Machola feels BFA’s decision is a blessing in disguise as TAFIC needs more time in the lower division to rebuild.
He reckons to find sponsorship in an environment that has no clear return on investment for the sponsor was unrealistic.
A long-serving member of the club’s committee, Machola believes there is need for strong structures that could raise at least P50,000 for the side every month.
While he admitted their support base shrank in the Premiership, he believes the fans appear to enjoy football in First Division. Machola is hopeful the supporters would return to the Francistown Council Stadium, their home base for the lower division league.
“Supporters shun the quality of the Premiership altogether hence gate takings were unreliable. First Division appears to be near the hearts of many people.”
“I believe our supporters would come back and we would find a way of rebuilding a self-sustainable project together without pressure.”
Matjimenyenga’s horrendous journey in the Premiership started with a solitary goal defeat to Orapa United.
At the time of the suspension, TAFIC had four wins, six draws and 10 defeats, bagging 21 goals and conceding 36 in 20 games.
TAFIC was on position 14 equal on points (18) with 13th placed Morupule Wanderers, but were behind due to an inferior goal difference.