Police XI snub BFA on Letsholathebe

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Thursday October 18, 2012 00:00

 

Mantswe said the player was only released to play in the 4-1 loss to Mali in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Saturday after the Zebras technical team communicated with the club management. The police spokesman said they are surprised that the BFA wrote a letter requesting for the player's release.

He said that although the letter from the BFA was addressed to the Botswana Police Service (BPS), the association knew that they were making their request to Police XI, which they (BFA) claim is not in existence. He revealed that they never bothered to reply the letter from the association. 'We expected them to write a personal letter to Ndiyapo since they claim we are not in existence but they did not,' Mantswe told Mmegi Sport.

He said the coach, Stanley Tshosane and the manager made a request directly to Police XI, which they accepted.He said they released two players from their development side who are part of the national Under-17 side that travelled to Rwanda on Tuesday.

'And we will continue to release these players because the national teams do not belong to anyone at the association,' he said. Police XI and the BFA have been at loggerheads over the association's decision to terminate the club's membership for failure to pay annual subscription fee. Together with Security Systems, Police XI lost their membership with the association and their Premier League status. The two clubs and others from the lower division were ordered to release players unconditionally by the association. Police XI however, maintain that the players belong to them and they will not release any as per the order from the association.

Mantswe said Police XI exist as a club because they registered as a society at the Registrar of Societies. He said the society comprises of players and will not be forced into releasing them unconditionally. One player that is already at the centre of a conflict between Police XI and another club is David Makakaba.

The exciting winger signed a contract with national champions, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, but Police XI maintain that he belongs to them and would not release him for free. Mantswe stated that while they are waiting for their case at the National Appeals Board (NAB) to be heard, the players continue to train although they do not play any competitive football. The appeal will be heard on October 24 as Police XI continue to fight for the BFA's decision to be reversed.