Rollers duo sold cheap- P300k
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday February 1, 2019 13:17
In a busy transfer window for local players, four crossed the border to sign for the sides in Botswana’s neighbouring country.
Jwaneng Galaxy’s attacker, Thero Setsile and Township Rollers’ Simisane Mathumo join Gaolaolwe and Mohutsiwa as Botswana’s latest exports to South Africa.
Rollers would, however, be disappointed to have pocketed just P300, 000 for Gaolaolwe and Mohutsiwa, who only had six months remaining in their respective contracts.
The time left in their contracts, limited Rollers’ negotiating power and had Popa earlier tied them to long-term deals, the club would have reaped better rewards. Equally, had Popa kept them until the end of the season; they risked losing them on a free.
Gaolaolwe and Montshiwa signed two and a half year deals.
The P150, 000 each player sum matches the highest deal recorded locally when Gaborone captured Zebras’ midfielder, Thatayaone Kgamanyane from Black Forest at the start of the 2017/2018 league campaign.
GU fared better as they were due to receive P1.5 million from Chippa United for the sale of Kabelo Seakanyeng and Thatayaone Kgamanyane.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport on Wednesday, Rollers’ public relations officer, Bafana Pheto was cagey with details of the transfers as he said the negotiations are yet to be concluded.
However, Pheto said the trio has started training with their respective teams while denying that the club was paid lesser than what they would have wanted.
“We are yet to finalise details of the sales. We cannot reveal (the amount) at the moment because we are yet to conclude negotiations. All the players were left with six months on their respective contracts, but I would like to emphasise that there is no way Rollers would sell players for a sum lower than their value,” he said.
“Their contracts with Rollers did not mean anything, we were looking at the quality of the player, what they can offer on the filed of play, that’s how we price our players. But at the moment, I cannot divulge any other detail on the transfers.”
On the other hand Galaxy’s spokesperson, Tankiso Morake echoed his Rollers’ counterpart when he said the player’s football progress and development were the key point when handling the negotiations.
The quartet take the number of local players in South African leagues to eight as Kabelo Seakanyeng is at Chippa United, Mogakolodi Ngele (Mamelodi Sundowns), Onkabetse Makgantai (Baroka FC) and Kabelo Dambe (Bloemfontein Celtic).
Meanwhile, Orapa United’s Tapiwa Nyamanjiva is back at the Ostriches after being invited for an assessment at Highlands Park in South Africa. Former Gaborone United attacker, Mpho Kgaswane was unveiled this week at Azerbaijani club, Zira FC. The 24-year-old left Baroka FC in December and has penned a two-and-half deal with the club.
Kgaswane is expected to help his side avoid relegation as they sit bottom of an eight-team league. Galaxy have roped in former young Zebras left back, Benson Mangolo while GU signed former Green Buffaloes striker, Jasper Masialeti.
Popa, in a bid to fill the void left by the departing players, have singed left back Onkarabile Ratanang from Sankoyo Bush Bucks, centre back Brian Botsang from Notwane and Congolese striker Wasindidi Bibo Bindu from Zambian club Kabwe Warriors while Orapa United have recruited Unobatsha Mbaiwa, Mpho Kgaswane and Bathusi Oabile from Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Extension Gunners and Sankoyo respectively.