TAFIC Suspend Seven Players
Chakalisa Dube | Monday March 19, 2018 12:50
“I cannot disclose why the players have been suspended because this is a sensitive and internal matter. The suspension is indefinite. The players will appear for a disciplinary hearing soon,” he said.
The suspended players are: Michael Murwira, Bonolo Fraizer, Mooketsi Mampori, Rodney Buka, Bokamoso Mbambo, Gofamodimo Kobe and Mbatshi Machongo. Sport Monitor has established that amongst others some of the players were reportedly slapped with suspensions for deciding against travelling with the team to a league match at Gaborone United (GU) recently. They reportedly decided against travelling with the team because of outstanding wages.
Additionally some of the suspended players are said to have attempted to incite the team to boycott training and matches recently owing to unpaid wages. “The team acknowledges that it owes the players and it has made a commitment to pay them soon. Despite such promise some of the suspended players attempted to incite their colleagues to boycott training and some matches, which is why the club found it reasonable to suspend,” an insider at the club said.
The source also stated that some of the players, particularly Mampori, were suspended for regularly missing training sessions.
It is also reported that some of the seven suspended players clashed with coach Rapelang Tsatsilebe during a training session ahead of the GU clash. Most of the suspended players have played a pivotal role for TAFIC this season and their suspension is a big blow to the club’s ambitions of surviving relegation. TAFIC are 13th in the league, a point away from the relegation zone.
To make matters worse the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Disciplinary Committee last month suspended defender, Samuel Phiri, for 15 games and fined him P5,000.
Phiri was also barred from taking part in all activities sanctioned by the BFA for the duration of his suspension. He was suspended after beating Edwin Moalosi during a league at the beginning of the year.