Chiefs find new love down below
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday October 4, 2019 10:59
Chiefs became the darling of thousands of fans across the country after they won their first league title in 2008, and became Township Rollers’ main rivals.
Four titles cemented Magosi as a powerhouse in local football. But the glory days slowly became distant memory as boardroom squabbles over the control of the club emerged.
First the Kgatleng giants lost business mogul, Sayeed Jamali as an investor whose financial assistance kept the club afloat. Then came battles in the courtroom between warring factions led by Raymond Tsheko and Ramocha Tsieng.
The alarm bells rang at an earsplitting rate. With the income reduced, players boycotted training while fans stayed away from games, and the results were not forthcoming. Chiefs’ dooms day finally came on Saturday May 4, 2019 as a 3-1 defeat to Sankoyo Bush Bucks condemned the team to the second tier league.
Life has surprisingly been rosy in the lower division. Three wins in three games, the glory days are seemingly beckoning at the famous black and white. The remedy has been to annihilate the politics in the club according to the club’s public relations officer, John Mpho Marumo. He also said transparency has been key.
“Our main focus is to curb factions in the team and take it to its normal heights. This is the mandate we have been given. At the moment we have not really done enough because we (new executive committee) were voted into office a week before the (transfer) window closed. So we did not really do well in the market in terms of beefing up the squad.”
“We are working day and night to bring the glory days back to Magosi. The team is transparent; that is we are more open in the way we do our things now. We keep in touch with our fans and the branch managers. Our players and technical team are also being kept on track with everything happening in the club, that has been the secret thus far,” Marumo said.
The good results have seen fans flood the grounds once again, a sight that has been missing for a long time. However, Marumo said the financial problems continue to present barriers as the club fails to meet its P100, 000 per month budget.
“We do not have a sponsor, so we rely mostly on donations and gate takings. We can only make around P40, 000 per home game, which is still not enough. As for the outstanding debts we are still far off, we have not cleared anything from last season because we have not yet completed the handover,” he added.
Despite financial struggles, Marumo said it has been smooth sailing in the dusty grounds and lauded the supporters for coming to the games.
“It is the trust, Magosi will follow who ever they can trust. So transparency is key when we deal with Chiefs supporters. We applaud them for coming on board; the pressure is now on us as the committee. We need to get this team where it belongs, not to undermine the division but this is not where we belong, we are being missed in the top flight.”
Magosi will continue their journey with a local derby against Mochudi Rovers at the Modipane United grounds. Koketso ‘Slenda’ Mphokothi, who has scored three goals in as many games, will be looking to continue his rich vein of form.