Trouble brewing at Nico

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Friday June 25, 2010 00:00

Club chairman, Etlhomilwe Raditshego, told Mmegi Sport that the AGM was supposed to be held last Sunday but supporters decided to stay away despite the fact that the committee had publicised the event.

Some committee members did not bother to attend, citing pressing commitments elsewhere. Only treasurer Tshoganetso Moreri, team manager, Gaajewe Sethore and the spokesperson Patrick Gaofetoge turned up for the abortive meeting.

'The secretary general, Chakaloba Kgosidialwa, was present but had to leave because people were not coming and others are out of town due to various reasons,' Raditshego said. He added that the few members who turned up did not form a quorum. He suspects that supporters did not turn up as most of them are BCL mine employees and they could have been on duty. Probably indicative of the rot at the club, only 49 people out of a membership of more than 200 bothered to attend the AGM that ushered in the current committee last season.

Raditshego said a new committee was expected to be elected at the AGM as current office bearers have not shown interest in seeking re-election. Long-serving club president, Kavis Kario, is not willing to seek another term.

Raditshego said it is imperative for the new committee to take charge before the beginning of the season in order to familiarise with club operations. He stated that time is not on their side because the transfer window is open and teams have started recruitment. He said Nico should recruit and off-load some players but the outgoing committee cannot make decisions for the incoming officials. He urged Nico supporters to elect people who can take the club forward.

He is worried that Nico is far from achieving the goals of the Bosele Declaration, which, among others, require clubs to have offices. Raditshego said one of the reasons that influenced them to jump ship was the infighting at the club and pressure to deliver. He stated that they had too much to do and it pained them that their work was not appreciated. 'People just kept pointing fingers at us. That made us to lose interest in working for the club. Nico is a community team and committee members have their own jobs that they must take care of and they also have families that they should spend time with. We are just sacrificing but sacrifice ends at some point. Despite this, we will support the new committee,' he said.

He explained that the committee managed to keep the club afloat and Nico did not fight relegation last season, something that has not happened in many years. He said they recruited good players and a coach, Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo and if properly utilised, the current crop of players can take the team higher.  The AGM is now expected to take place on Sunday at 9 am.