ECCO failing to attract investors

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Friday July 19, 2013 00:00

 

ECCO City Greens are still struggling to attract investors months after Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) announced their decision to stop sponsoring the club. Despite numerous attempts to approach certain business people, the club committee has so far been hitting a brick wall. 'We have talked to several potential investors and they would require us to draw them an annual budget for the team. We would inform them that it is about P2 million and they would lose interest. That is how we have been going so far,' club chairperson, Bothibedi Latlhang told Mmegi Sport yesterday. He said the problem seems to be the fact that there is little knowledge among potential investors as to where football is heading.

'They are not yet convinced that local football can be turned into a viable business,' he added. While BMC football club were also in the same situation like ECCO, they have recently managed to attract an investor who has been given 80 percent stake in the team. The decision by the commission to pull out of the two sides did not only leave supporters in panic mode but also some players. Before the official takeover of BMC by the new owner, Daruosh Ghodrati, BMC lost the services of three key players, Kenanao Kgetholetsile, Motsholetsi Sikele and Leutlwetse Tshireletso. Now ECCO are on the verge of losing two key men, Ontse Ntesa and Patrick Lenyeletse who are on their way to reigning ldeague champions, Mochudi Centre Chiefs.  Latlhang admitted that the departure of key players could be due to uncertainty over the club's future. He said Ntesa's contract came to an end in May and he had told them that he was not going to renew it. 'Chiefs then showed interest in him and we gave them the go ahead to speak to the player. Both the player and Chiefs agreed terms and he wrote a letter resigning from us,' he said. Despite signing with Chiefs, Ntesa's registration book is still in the hands of ECCO who are awaiting Chiefs' response regarding compensation.

Latlhang explained that they groomed the player and paid for his tertiary studies at Baisago University College.'We had informed Chiefs about that and required them to compensate us for that but they are yet to respond, so we are waiting,' he said.  He revealed that Lenyeletse was bought out of contract, which was coming to an end in December. He said there was no way they were going to stand in the player's way considering the offer he got from Chiefs. 'We were not going to be able to meet the offer that Chiefs gave him and it was only fair to let him go,' he added.  He admitted that supporters have every reason to panic with several key players leaving the team but pointed out that they are replaceable.