Rollers drop Leinanyane case
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 1, 2017 14:03
Leinanyane reportedly signed with Rollers and Jwaneng Galaxy. The player’s contract with Galaxy ended in July and he is said to have penned a three-year deal with league champions, Rollers on June 20 before signing yet another three year deal with Galaxy.
However, Rollers have since taken a bold step by deciding against pursuing the matter in the ‘best interest of the teams and the player’ after the intervention of the Footballers Union of Botswana (FUB).
“It is an open secret that the player signed two contracts. We could have taken the matter to the Players Status Committee (PSC) since the player was at fault here. We found it necessary to drop the matter.
If we pursued it, he (Leinanyane) could have been suspended (and) we as a club we would have benefited nothing from the outcome,” Rollers pubic relations officer, Bafana Pheto told Mmegi Sport yesterday.
He further reiterated that Rollers never had an issue with Galaxy as the player’s action led to the fracas.
“It is clear that the player was at fault. I think FUB should educate the players more on the issues.
FUB should educate the players on the repercussions they could face for signing contracts with more than one club and missing training with no valid reason amongst others,” Pheto said.
FUB secretary general, Kgosana Masaseng lauded Rollers for their actions and showed disappointment at the recurrence of such matters.
“Upon learning about the matter, we then instituted the reconciliation process. We suggested to the clubs that it will be of the best interest of the player to solve the issue outside the PSC. Rollers decided to drop the issue, which is commendable.
“It really hurt us as the union that the same people we advocate for continue to repeat the same mistakes. We have educated the players on these issues; we find it appropriate for the action to be taken against the player. We can not be dealing with these issues at this stage,” he said.
Rollers found themselves in the middle of player wrangles in the past seasons more than any other team.
The team’s pursuit for Boitumelo Mafoko was caught in a three-team wrangle as the player had reportedly signed three contracts with Rollers, Nico United and TAFIC while Galabye Moyana’s move from Mochudi Centre Chiefs was also questioned as the player was said to have signed another contract with Chiefs prior to the Rollers move.
Popa were recently served with court papers for former midfielder Lebogang Ditsile by Kweneng Division one side, Sweet XI who wanted to claim a stake in the proceeds following the player’s move to Highlands Park in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Rollers have withdrawn from a four-team preseason tournament to be played at the Lobatse Sports Complex tomorrow. Rollers were scheduled to play Extension Gunners, Black Forest and Chiefs. Jwaneng Galaxy will take Rollers’ place.