Chiefs Part Ways With Mondo

TSHEPO MOLWANE
Staff Writer | Monday May 31, 2010 00:00

 

Mondo joined Magosi at the start of the season on a two-year contract, replacing fellow countryman Beston Chambeshi. He guided Magosi to second position in both the league and Coca-Cola Cup but it was not good enough to save his job. It was his decision in the Coke Cup final loss to Township Rollers on May 15, which is said to have cost him his job. With Magosi enjoying a comfortable 1-0 lead at half time, Mondo surprisingly substituted midfield kingpin Dirang Moloi, something that gave Mapalastina an edge in the second half. Rollers equalised through Terrence Mandaza 25 minutes from time to force extra time. Mapalastina ran over Magosi with Mandaza and Edwin Moalosi scoring a goal each to claim an emphatic 3-1 win. 

Chiefs' spokesperson Clifford Mogomotsi could not hide his disappointment after the final. He said they only had themselves to blame for the loss because certain decisions taken by the coaching staff proved costly. Though he would not eleborate, Mogomotsi did not agree with the coach's decision to substitute Moloi. Mogomotsi said that it would be important that they go back to the drawing board to discuss the future. Since the final, the supporters and some of the team's elders are said to have put the management under pressure to fire Mondo.

'This man (Mondo) is stubborn and there is no way we could continue with him under those circumstances. He has to understand the tradition of the team. The truth of the matter is that we reached a gentleman's agreement (to part ways) at the meeting and we'll pay him what we owe him. He's likely to leave next week,' said a Chiefs' official. Efforts to get hold of Mogomotsi at the weekend were fruitless as his phone rang unanswered. But on Friday night, Mogomotsi had promised to shed light on the said 'gentleman's agreement'. Team manager Lebo Seboni could not be drawn into commenting as he said Mogomotsi was better placed to do so. For his part, Mondo confirmed meeting with the officials but said there was nothing official. He said he could only comment after meeting with the officials today.

Meanwhile, it is said that the financial situation at Chiefs has once again caused panic at the Kgatleng giants. Sport Monitor has learnt that two officials who had been banned from handling the team's finances for the last two months have been dodgy. After Botswana Premier League (BPL) office deposited their P500, 000 prize last week, the officials are alleged to have rushed to the bank and cashed some of the money saying they were going to pay players. 'It is worrying because we agreed that they should not be allowed to handle finances until further notice. We don't even know what they're going to do with the money because one of them says he is owed around P150, 000,' said an inside source.