ECCO negotiate with suitors

CHAKALISA DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday August 6, 2013 00:00

 

It is said some Gaborone business people are interested in buying the club though details are still sketchy.However, supporters, players and the technical team have reportedly been briefed about the on-going talks, but not the identity of the interested parties for fear of jeopardising the deal.The supporters were briefed about the possible takeover at a closed door meeting early last week.'Both supporters, players and the technical team have not been told when the talks with possible suitors will be concluded,' said one club insider yesterday.

ECCO chairman, Mothibedi Latlhang declined to be drawn into discussing the negotiations and possible takeover of the club. 'We will make an announcement about the future of the club when the right time comes.This is not the right time,' he said late last week.ECCO has been forced to find a suitor following the announcement by the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) that it will cease funding the club at the end of the year.The controversy-ridden parastatal has bankrolled ECCO players' salaries and almost all logistics.The commission has ceased funding its other club BMC FC. The Lobatse club has since been privatised.

There are fears that ECCO could collapse if it does get sponsors.The announcement by BMC to cease funding ECCO is said to have caused serious consternation and uncertainty among players.Already, the club has lost key players to other clubs since the announcement. Striker Patrick Lenyeletse has joined Mochudi Centre Chiefs together with national team left back, Ontse Ntesa. Mmoloki Kafuko is now in the books of Orapa United.