TAFIC, Rollers brawl inquiry fails to kick off

Staff Writer | Friday February 2, 2018 14:31

 

A fracas broke out during the two teams’ BTC Premiership clash last week Tuesday, which saw three players and two officials dismissed.

The two clubs were supposed to appear before the DC on Wednesday and Thursday.

“They did not sit, because they (DC) could not form a quorum. One member had a sudden bereavement and the other fell ill,” BPL chief executive officer, Thabo Ntshinogang said. Three players, Samuel Phiri and his coach at TAFIC, Rapelang ‘Razor’ Tsatsilebe, Joel Mogorosi and Mthokozisi Msomi both from Township Rollers are facing disciplinary action.

Rollers and its accused players were supposed to be the first to appear on Wednesday. Gilport Lions, facing censure for their failure to raise a team and in the process, violating the Club Licensing procedures, were also due to face the DC on Wednesday.

Yesterday, TAFIC and its accused player and  coach, were expected before the committee. No new date for the hearings has been set. Local football was plunged into new lows when Phiri slapped Rollers winger, Edwin Moalosi during a BTC Premiership encounter last week Tuesday, which sparked a fierce brawl.

In the process, Mogorosi and Msomi, were both shown red cards for aggressive behaviour after charging in to protect Moalosi.

The four, who were fingered as key in the fracas, were immediately suspended from all football activities. Rollers came down hard on the players and slapped them with a one-month suspension, without pay. Phiri also remains suspended at TAFIC.

Mogorosi and Msomi’s suspension is particularly a big blow for the team, which was left without a recognised striker.

Rollers are in the CAF Champions League and play Sudanese side, Al Merrikh on February 10, before the return leg, a week later. The suspensions mean, Mogorosi and Msomi’s experience will be missed at international level, as they only return to action at the end of February.

However, they might be a heavier penalty on the way, which might sideline some of the players involved in the brawl, a little longer.

Phiri and Mogorosi were just returning from lengthy suspensions, and that might aggravate their case.