Play-off on despite Chiefs� plea
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday July 22, 2016 12:43
The match, although expected to decide this season’s league champions, has received little support from both the public and the football pundits. League sponsors, beMOBILE have already stated they will not be part of the proceedings tomorrow in Francistown.
BFA president, Tebogo Sebego however on Wednesday said the game will take place as scheduled despite the latest developments, including the suspension of the Botswana Premier League (BPL) board. Sebego said if there is anything that will change regarding the scheduled match, it will be communicated but insisted that it is going ahead. He said if any of the teams does not honour the game, rules will then apply.
Chiefs this week wrote to the BPL seeking advise on the status of the match since they only have six players eligible to play tomorrow out of the 25 registered last season. BPL have since forwarded the matter to the mother body.
In the letter, Magosi said Ayanda Molefe, Tendai Nyumasi, Dirang Moloi, Lemponye Tshireletso, Kopano Kgamanyane and Atang Mmualefhe have either resigned or signed contracts with other clubs hence making them unavailable for this game.
They have also informed the BPL that the likes of Lesego Molemogi, Ontse Ntesa, Mompoloki Sephekolo and Thobo Mokopakgosi’s contracts have since expired with the club while Raphael Nthwane, Onalethata Tshekiso and Pontsho Moloi have retired.
On top of the six players that are eligible to play tomorrow, the other six who are still at the team are injured, according to the club. Lesego Galenamotlhale, Thato Kebue, Jackie Mothatego, Mpho Kgaswane, Keabetswe Jenamiso and Othusitse Pilane are said to be nursing injuries. “Consideration must also be had of the fact that it is off season and the players’ fitness cannot be expected to match that of when the season is on.
Our medics have advised that the players will only be fit to play in a competitive game by the second week of August,” the club chairperson, Raymond Tsheko stated in the letter. He said the laws of the game do not allow a game to be played if any of the teams has less than seven players in the game.
“In light of the said rule (1.4 of the Play Rules and Regulations and Law 3 of Article 1 of the Laws of the Game), may you advise us on the status of the game,” Tsheko said. Club spokesperson, Clifford Mogomotsi also repeatedly stated this week that they do not have enough players to make up a team for the play-off.
Rollers, despite losing some players have on the other hand said they are ready to play. Rollers lost Jerome Ramatlhakwana, Sekhana Koko, Noah Maposa, Letumile Molebatsi and Obonye Moswate but have managed to retain a good number of their squad.
They will be without Galagwe Moyana who is expected to miss even the start of the new season with an injury. In the absence of Koko and Moyana, Rollers have an abundance of wingers including Kobamelo Kebaikanye, Motsholetsi Sikele, Joel Mogorosi as well as Edwin Moalosi. Club spokesperson, Bafana Pheto said they leave this morning to Francistown.