Sacked BR coach feels cheated
Oageng Batenegi | Thursday April 28, 2016 09:47
Ratlou said the management always dragged its feet regarding his contract arguing he is a civil servant and therefore could not hold two jobs within the government. Ratlou is a teacher at Mahalapye Primary School while parastatal, Botswana Railways sponsors Highlanders. Ratlou is adamant that the whole issue was a trap and a deliberate plot to cheat him. He believes the team’s management had a hidden agenda from the beginning. Ratlou said there was always a plot to cheat him. Asked why he was saying this now, Ratlou said desperation and desire to succeed as a local coach drove him. He was patient hoping the officials will address the issue. “I was lenient with them and they took advantage and cheated me,” said a frustrated Ratlou.
Ratlou said he never enjoyed cordial relations with the management. He points fingers at some officials, among them team manager Witness Phuthego as behind his downfall. Ratlou said the players were always aggrieved and the management never listened. He said Phuthego always came towards match days just to announce travel arrangements. Ratlou said efforts to consult on players’ welfare with the management through Phuthego often fell on deaf ears.
Even his sacking was done verbally, Ratlou said. He said Phuthego told him his services were no longer required and that management could not write him a dismissal letter since he was never hired.
Contacted for comment, Phuthego said claims they did not care about players’ welfare was mere gossip. Phuthego said players always came to him with even their personal problems. He said as the management they always communicated their plans and challenges with the players and the coach.
Phuthego said everyone shares the blame for the team’s relegation. He said Ratlou was trying to run away from the blame with his excuses.
Phuthego believes all their coaches, Tebogo Mokute and Ratlou were good and it is just that luck was not on their side. He blamed biased refereeing in some instances. On Ratlou’s contract, Phuthego could not confirm nor deny if there was a written agreement. Pressed how he could forget such a critical matter, Phuthego fumed and said he will not give this publication information he was not sure of. Phuthego said as far as they are concerned, they do not owe Ratlou. “He has not said anything to us. He must come forward with the proof,” Phuthego said.