Okaile comes face-to-face with GU�s firing squad
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday November 24, 2017 13:14
The meeting was scheduled for last month but was postponed as the attendants failed to form a quorum, which is a third of the 300 registered members, but inevitably gave Okaile’s camp, time to regroup.
Okaile, who was voted into office in 2015, has not enjoyed the best of times as GU chairperson as he has been at loggerheads with a faction of supporters since assuming power. The fight over the control of the club has landed in court as a group led by Molatedi Diole challenges Okaile’s legitimacy.
With the club’s status as one of the big teams in the country continuing to decline, the blame finger is pointed at Okaile. Since 2009, the club has suffered, both on and off the field. GU have, in the past seasons, failed to keep sponsors and investors alike due to fights that have reached the courtroom.
The latest to leave was long time investor, Nicholas Zackhem and mobile phone company, Mobicel who contributed a total of P2 million last season.
Apart from winning the Top 8 in 2014, GU’s performance on the field has been below par.
The events prompted a group of supporters to plan a coup against Okaile as they are preparing a motion of no confidence on his committee. To add to Okaile’s ‘sins’, he has stuck by under-fire coach, Rodolfo Zapata whom the supporters want gone following a string of poor results stretching last season.
Earlier this year, it is reported that Okaile, who is in his second of a four-year term, dogged a firing bullet as he refused to attend a meeting called by the chairperson of the regions.
As the club’s 50th anniversary is overshadowed by the internal squabbles, Okaile will tomorrow come face-to-face with GU’s firing squad.
He, however, remains resolute and earlier this month, dared his rivals during a press conference in Gaborone.
“The majority chose me to lead GU. I beat (Tymon) Katlholo with seven votes. I will even tell them at the AGM; even if they call for elections I will still win. They say I lost the majority support, I still have the support. It is the majority that put me in power and I will lead.
“We are going to host an AGM in a few weeks and I can put my head on the block if they call for elections. I have lived an apologetic life (as the GU chairperson) and that made the players to suffer due to the in-fights. Whoever suggests a motion of no confidence, I will ask their plans for the club. I am a responsible chairperson. I would not be irresponsible and let someone who doesn’t have bright plans for the club to take over,” he said.
As the club continues to suffer financially, Okaile revealed that he sacrificed his personal resources as he assisted the club with over a P1 million in the past two seasons through his company, Warentebo Investments.