Uproar as businessman closes in on BMC deal

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday June 14, 2013 00:00

 

The New Era School owner confirmed to Mmegi Sport that he has a final offer from BMC. Ghodrati said he is keen to conclude the deal before the end of the month.'We have had a number of discussions, but we have not finalised the deal yet. I am waiting for other stakeholders' input, but we are serious about it (the deal),' Ghodrati said yesterday.But the BMC club committee, led by Sonny Phiri is ready to throw spanners in the works as it argues potential buyers should deal with them.

'We are really surprised (that there is a new owner). The company (BMC) handed the club to us. We are waiting for a meeting with the management on Monday,' Phiri said.He argued that BMC is a society, which affiliates to the Botswana Football Association (BFA).  But Ghodrati said as far as he is concerned, BMC, the club has been dissolved and the 'only authority to discuss with is (acting BMC chief executive officer, Akolang) Tombale.'BMC football club is non existent, and as far as I know, the final decision (regarding the sell) lies with the company,' Ghodrati said.

The Indian businessman could not disclose how much he was prepared to buy the club for, saying he needed a green light from his lawyer to mention the figure.He said he was motivated to buy BMC for the love of football.'It is my duty to give back to the community,' he said. BMC corporate communications manager, Tiro Kganela dismissed the committee's argument. 'That is nonsense. The team is a BMC social club. The committee is dissolved and the deal can only be between the new owner and Tombale,' Kganela said.He said the committee cannot negotiate with any club for the sale of players. BMC had reportedly struck a deal with Township Rollers for the sale of Kgetholetsile 'Flo' Kenanao and Motsholetsi Sikele.

The looming BMC sale highlights the plight of local clubs who are forced to look for new owners due to financial constraints. Alreadly renowned businessmen, Jagdish Shah, Seyed Jamali and Nicholas Zakhem have assumed control of Township Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United respectively.