Gobuiwang's dream crumbling
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday January 24, 2020 14:36
Gobuiwang or ‘Mokwena’ as he is affectionately known has asserted himself as of one of the most influential and powerful names in local football circles.
His reputation soared when he led Township Rollers for over a decade until 2015. In his tenure at the country’s most successful football club, it became the country’s premium exporter of talent while laying a solid foundation for the modern professional club.
Mokwena left the side in 2015 after a fall out with one-time ally, Rollers president and investor, Jagdish Shah. A drawn out legal battle saw Gobuiwang relinquish his position at Popa while Shah retained his position.
He then sought refugee at Sharps Electrical in 2016. The team re-branded to Sharps Shooting Stars before gaining promotion to the elite league. Gobuiwang took over the club under a cloud, when he paid P10, 000 to seal the purchase in August 2019, re-branding the team to Molepolole City Stars.
Stars relocated from Old Naledi to Molepolole, which happens to be Gobuiwang’s home village.
It had appeared a match made in heaven and the resurrection of the respected club boss following his humiliating exit from Rollers. City Stars became the first Molepolole team in the Premiership.
However six months later, trouble is brewing at the Kwena Ya Madiba. First came a decision by the First Instance Board to dock the team three points for failing to meet the Club Licencing requirements.
A series of poor results came after the team under the tutelage of well-travelled coach, Enosi Mmesi. The club relieved the coach off his duties in November, putting trust on the youthful, Wame Mokoke.
However on the pitch, the results did not change as City Stars find themselves in the 13th spot with just 11 points. They are level on points with relegation candidates, TAFIC and a point ahead of 15th placed Notwane.
City Stars have managed just three wins this campaign and were knocked out of the Mascom Top 8.
A can of worms opened on Wednesday after Mokoke put in a resignation letter, though City Stars later squashed the rumours of the coach’s departure. Mokoke accused the club of failing to pay him and the players in his resignation letter.
He said the player’s welfare was not taken care of, as he wanted to end a torrid coaching period at the Premier League’s youngest club. It looks like the early death of a dream born in Molepolole while Gobuiwang admitted that the path has been thorny.
“We are getting there, we are trying. We are in a rebuilding phase. As you know the dynamics of our football is not easy to rebuild, it is a headache to do so but we are optimistic,” Gobuiwang said briefly.