BFA faces play-off headache
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Wednesday July 13, 2016 15:19
The game was scheduled for last month, but was postponed at the last minute by the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) to give full attention to the Zebras who were involved in the COSAFA Castle Cup in Namibia.
Among the stumbling blocks are the two club’s demands for compensation for money spent preparing for the aborted match. The parties have been involved in a series of meetings since the Zebras’ return from Namibia but a date has yet to set.
“We incurred costs during our preparation for that match when it was postponed. We are waiting for them (Botswana Football Association) to come back to us. They were to come back to us last Friday but they did not. Maybe they were still sorting out some issues and hopefully this week we will hear from them,” Rollers spokesperson, Bafana Pheto said yesterday.
The play-off also faces other challenges with both teams having lost some key players and technical staff who formed part of their squad last season. Chiefs have already lost Tendai Nyumasi and Lemponye Tshireletso. They are also without coaches, Mike Sithole and Michael Mogaladi who have both joined Jwaneng Galaxy.
On the other hand, Rollers have lost Jerome Ramatlhakwana after his loan deal expired.
Meanwhile, Pheto said they are still waiting for the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to set up a date for a hearing regarding Ofentse Nato’s status.
The ruling is expected to bring an end to the fracas that has thrown the 2015-2016 season into chaos with no champions declared.
There was another meeting yesterday among the clubs, the BNSC, BFA and the Botswana Premier League in a bid to resolve the play-off impasse. It is interesting how the issue of players who have moved would be resolved as there could be implications if a new set is fielded.
Yesterday, BFA chief executive officer, Kitso Kemoeng said they were keen to have the play-off, which is why they were locked in meetings.