Ramatlhakwana in shock Rollers exit
Staff Writer | Friday January 12, 2018 16:00
Just this week, Rollers spokesperson, Bafana Pheto had said only goalkeeper, Kabelo Dambe, who is close to joining South African side, Bloemfontein Celtic, will leave.
But on Thursday, the Botswana Premier League said the reigning league champions had de-registered Dambe and Ramatlhakwana.
Pheto said the player had asked to be released from his two-year contract, having joined at the beginning of the season.
“The player asked to be released, but we are still dealing with the issue internally. The reason we de-registered him is that he is the one who asked to be released.
We are still waiting for the arrival of the club president (Jagdish Shah) who is overseas. Our contracts allow that we release players, but it’s not necessarily automatic, even in his (JJ’s) case, there are issues we have to deal with,” Pheto said yesterday.
Sources said JJ is eyeing a move to a local side.
The duo’s departure will now create space for Ofentse Nato as well as Galabgwe Moyana who is returning from an injury.
Meanwhile, Mochudi Centre Chiefs are set to lose two key players; Lesego Galenamotlhale and Thato Kebue. Galenamotlhale has been linked with several Premier League sides including Orapa United and BDF XI. Kebue is said to be on his way out to Jwaneng Galaxy. Orapa United have reportedly changed their minds and retained midfielder, Kemmy Pilato and Mooketsi Hlabano.
The two players were previously put on the transfer list together with Mogomotsi Samson, Letumile Molebatsi and Bogosi Kaekwe. Kaekwe in particular joined Orapa United at the beginning of the season from Rollers. The club has since roped in Bongani Mafu as the new coach, replacing his Zimbabwean counterpart, Madinda Ndlovu.
Beleaguered side, Gilport Lions have de-registered a total of 16 players following disputes over payment of salaries, mostly senior players. Amongst those who have left are Mosimanegape Ntwaetsile, Unobatsha Mbaiwa, Topo Piet, Thabo Mothibi, Jackie Mothatego and Takudzwa Ndoro. Ntwaetsile has since found a new home at Orapa United.
Premier League rookies, Sharps Shooting Stars are already planning for life after coach, Rapelang ‘Razor’ Tsatsilebe who joined TAFIC this week after just under six months with the Old Naledi-based side.
He joined Sharps following the suspension and subsequent departure of Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul in November. At the time Razor joined Sharps, they were living dangerously at position 15, but left them at position 12 with 14 points. According to Sharps spokesperson, Moitshepi Seisa, Tsatsilebe’s reasons for his departure were that he had received a better offer from the Francistown-based side.
“He probably weighed his options and picked up a better offer and Sharps is fine with that. We wish him the best,” he said. He said goalkeeper coach, Blue Same will hold the fort in the meantime as they seek to remedy the situation. They had a training match against Zambian side, Green Buffaloes yesterday at Lekidi Centre football pitch where they lost 3-0.
“We gave a few trialists and possible signings a chance. We have managed to retain all our players as of now. We received a few inquiries from some teams, but we opted to decline any possible sale or loan,” he said.
TAFIC recently parted ways with head coach, Maxwell Moyo after a spell of poor results, which leaves the team in position 14.