Gwandu explains why he is nomadic

| Friday August 20, 2010 00:00

Mmegi Sport: You played under Rahman Gumbo at CAPS United in Zimbabwe, last season you joined him at Township Rollers and now you have followed him to Mochudi Centre Chiefs. Did he play any part in your move?

Gwandu: Not at all. He never influenced my decision to join Chiefs. It was not about him, it was about what I want to achieve. I looked at the players at Chiefs and how they performed in the past two seasons. I felt they are capable of winning the league title. I believe this is their time to win the league. That is why I opted to join them. Again, with a coach like Gumbo, you learn new things everyday. I enjoy football under him. He is a motivator and that is what you need as a player. Mmegi Sport: Don't you think moving from one team to the other in a short space of time will cause clubs to lack trust in you?

Gwandu: I don't think so because, ultimately, it is all about how you handle yourself as a player during your stay at the club. For example, if my previous club says bad things about me, I simply go on to prove them wrong by conducting myself well at the new club. If you look at me - wherever I have been, I never gave anyone problems. So if you say I am a bad person, I will behave well and my new employer won't see anything that suggests I am a bad guy. So, as far as I am concerned, there is trust in me because clubs know that I am well-behaved. Mmegi Sport: You have won the league with two different clubs in two consecutive seasons. What is next?

Gwandu: It is obvious. I am looking forward to another league title with Chiefs. If you look at Chiefs, they have what it takes to win. They have been consistent in the past three seasons and they have kept their squad intact for quite some time. After winning the league in the 2007/08 season, they finished second the following season. They did the same last season. So I believe this is their time to win it. Mmegi Sport: You seem to have a smart way of signing contracts because you have never been caught up in a wrangle when you want to move. What is the secret?

Gwandu: Contractual issues are quite tricky and I always advise other players to find someone who understands (contracts) better before they sign. Most of us only look at the money offered in the contract and nothing else. But it is important to know the contents of the contract; what it allows you to do and what it does not allow you to do. Once you have done that, you will be sure to sign a deal that won't tie you down unnecessarily in the end. Mmegi Sport: You have done well in the past two seasons but you have never been called to your national team. Why?

Gwandu: It is because they do not rate Botswana football. They regard it as an amateur league although things are slowly changing. So it is a bit difficult for one to be called to the national team when playing in this league. But, having said that, I believe my time is coming. Mmegi Sport: Why did you leave Rollers?

Gwandu: The issue of bonuses became a problem. Otherwise, my stay at Rollers was a pleasant one. So much happened while I was there and I want to thank the club's management, players and supporters for everything they did for me. Mmegi Sport: You left GU because of the club's failure to pay bonuses two seasons ago and now you have left Rollers because of the same thing. What should clubs do concerning bonuses?

Gwandu: I think they should be professional. I know they usually hide behind the fact that there is no written agreement as to how much players should get for winning the league. But the same relationship based on trust when players fight it out for their coach should also prevail at management level. The tendency is that they tell you to win and you will get something, only to fail to honour their promise once the league is won. There should be sincerity on on their part. It would make things easy to agree on a certain percentage before the league starts to avoid what we have seen in the past two seasons. Mmegi Sport: Apparently, your contract stated that you would get a certain amount if Rollers win the league title. Did you get your bonus?

Gwandu: That is a tricky question. I will not answer it.

Mmegi Sport: What have you done to make sure nothing of that sort happens should Chiefs win the league title?

Gwandu: Chiefs are one of the best teams in this country, in terms of player welfare. Look at how they have managed to keep their players in the past few seasons. It is only a few that have left and that shows that such issues are always well-taken care of. So, in my case, I feel everything is in place. Mmegi Sport: What is your advice to the other players who remained at Rollers despite not receiving bonuses?

Gwandu: Football is a short career; they should enjoy the game and, at the same time, achieve things in a short space of time. Football has become business so if they have opted to stay, they should forget about the bonus issue and concentrate on football. If you are not happy, you move, but if you decide to stay, give it your best shot. Mmegi Sport: What happened to the Pirates' deal?

Gwandu: I don't know because the last time I was there, they told us that the chairman (Irvine Khoza) was meant to come and conclude the deal. He couldn't make it because he was busy preparing for the World Cup since he was part of the organising committee. He was meant to come back to us after the World Cup, which he never did.