An implosion had been predicted at Township Rollers following the acrimonious departure of businessman, Jagdish Shah at the end of May. But Rollers’ titanic ship has surprised many, including yours truly, sailing effortlessly without any hitch.
The voyage has been smooth, judging from the outside that is, as the club has made impressive signings, eclipsing their more ‘stable’ rivals in the market. On Saturday, the club organised a family fun day as the blue nation rallies behind a side that is a key component in Botswana’s long football history. In fact the departure of Shah appears to have given the Rollers family fresh impetus to drive the brand to new heights. For now, the titanic iceberg moment has been averted and the giant Rollers ship sails away, defying the odds. Rollers have chosen not to share the recipe for the early success, but all appears to be smooth running. It is pleasing to see that the Rollers family put all hands on deck to ensure the institution does not suffer an immediate implosion soon after the departure of Shah. The determination to prove doubters wrong seems to be the fuel behind Rollers’ ‘resurgence’. It can only be good for football to have more and more teams classified as community sides, thrive. The arrival of players like Omphile Visagge, Obonwe Maome and Godfrey Tauyatswala speaks volume of Rollers’ ambitions.
The players must have been told a really good story for them to choose a side supposedly facing financial uncertainty. They could have easily shunned Rollers for other offers elsewhere, but it means they are impressed with the project presented to them. The football community will benefit from Rollers sharing how they managed to navigate the murky waters presented by the departure of a man who had become the heart and soul of the club. I know its early days, but if Rollers manage a seamless transition from the break-up, it is a story worth telling. The hope is that whatever the magic wand the Rollers family waved, it is durable. Botswana football is often caught in a conundrum, largely due to the ownership models of most clubs, which are societies. The new direction points to a company model, which has been lauded as the most ideal. The situation is still in a state of flux with no conclusive direction. Most Botswana clubs are running on empty and the models have proved unsustainable particularly in an unforgiving constricted environment where the lack of cash has proved to be the albatross around local football's neck. It will be refreshing to see the fans, who are the owners of the club, come together and form a consortium to ensure the longevity of the team.
The brutal truth is that an investor can come in and have no attachment to the club. Right now Shah has left and it will not be far off the mark to say, he doesn’t miss Rollers. He was parachuted into the Rollers system and probably his blood is not royal blue. Clubs need the ‘till death do us part’ commitments, and sadly in some cases, the investors do not offer that. They can hop and skip from one club to another without any iota of regret.
