Only eight players remain as Tse Nala crumble
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday July 20, 2018 13:54
The developments come hard on the heels of the club’s best ever season where the Serowe-based outfit finished fourth and secured a place in the lucrative Mascom Top 8 tournament.
Club spokesperson, Edwin Ntau confirmed they only have eight players contracted to the team. He said they have parted ways with their coach, Radipotsane, who has since been replaced by Chippa Koolese.
Koolese coached Miscellaneous in their maiden season in the BTC Premiership before he left for Orapa United. Ntau however played down reports that the club is in financial turmoil after sources said the team had failed to pay players from the P300, 000 BTC Premiership prize money.
Instead Ntau insists they will return a better team next season despite the player exodus. Mmegi Sport sources have however revealed that the club faces a bleak future following the departures, mainly due to the club’s dry coffers.
“Miscellaneous is falling apart. The players’ contracts have expired and they are looking elsewhere. Even those with running contracts want to leave because of the financial crisis at the club,” the sources claimed.
Miscellaneous have lost key players including talisman and top goal scorer Orebotse Mongae, who has returned home to South Africa, Master Masitara and Moodley Njeleza.
Young Zebras captain, Thatayaone Resaobaka has left for South Africa, with goalkeeper Bophelo Kealeboga moving to Orapa United and defender, Lesego Kereedilwe also re-tracing his steps to the Ostriches.
Jwaneng Galaxy had expressed interest in Kereedilwe’s centre back partner, Fortunate Thulare although the club said the Jwaneng side has since cooled interest. Thulare is amongst the eight players still contracted to the club.
Ntau confirmed the departure of all their foreign players and three others, but said the rest of the squad is back for pre-season training, although no new contracts have been discussed.
“Of course we could not settle all the dues we owe to the players, but we have paid them part of their money. We are a business like any other and we can’t run without debts. We still have other debts from our previous contracts with other people, like our former coach Russia Chaba and his assistant and there is nothing to hide,” he said.
There is speculation that the broke Miscellaneous failed to settle the coach and players’ salary arrears despite the club receiving a P300, 000 prize money. Sources said the prize money was insufficient to cover all Tse Nala’s ballooning debts.
“The coach left because the club is failing to take care of the players. They have performed well under strenuous conditions and it seems they can’t hold on any longer. They had hoped they will be paid when the prize money came but that has not been the case,” the source said.
Radipotsane confirmed that he has parted ways with Miscellaneous. He said he did not have any contract with the team, but was working under a gentlemen’s agreement. He admitted the club owes him but refused to discuss issues of payments in depth.
“They (Miscellaneous) have promised that they will fulfil the agreement we had. That is all I can say as far as issues of payments stand,” he said.
“I have met with the club management and told them that I won’t be available anymore. We parted ways amicably, there is no bad blood. I have a few offers on the table that I am considering at the moment that is why I had to leave.”
Radipotsane is linked with Morupule Wanderers, Sua Flamingoes and a possible return to Jwaneng Galaxy.