Notwane is scheduled to play Desert Nxau this (Friday) afternoon. The club's spokesperson, Mogomotsi 'Ace' Orapeleng is confident the team will fulfil the fixture as Notwane faces financial challenges. Ahead of the tie, the club appointed veteran coach Daniel 'Chico' Nare as interim head coach for the remaining four games of the season. His first assignment is the upcoming tie against minnows, Desert Nxau. The well-travelled Nare held his first training session on Monday afternoon with the whole squad. But on Tuesday, Nare got a taste of what to expect when players down tools, boycotting training over unpaid salaries. The players are owed three months' salaries and were reportedly taken aback by the decision to appoint Nare in the midst of a financial crisis. "It is not like the players have anything against Chico. They are questioning the decision by the management to appoint Chico. Chico, as we expect, does not come cheap and the players bemoan that they are owed salaries for three months. They feel since Chico is appointed, the money is there and they also feel that they need to be paid what they are owed," a source told MmegiSport.
Notwane's public relations officer, Orapeleng, said the players' revolt has nothing to do with the coach's appointment but the persisting financial crisis at the club. Orapeleng said the club's main financier pulled back assistance in January leaving Notwane in a dire financial situation. He admitted the players are owed three months' salaries and the club solely depends on donors and the membership. Orapeleng said despite a difficult week, the team will honour this afternoon's league clash in Tsabong. "We are looking at the Notwane faithful to lend a helping hand. We should have a training session this afternoon and we hope that it will run without hiccups. Notwane has been having financial problems for a long time now, and what happened this week, we feel is the players now sounding their displeasure. It is a fact, no employee can go for this long without salaries, so we understand that the players are also frustrated. But in the history of the club, we have never failed to honour any of our away games and we are to leave for Tsabong on Thursday. We will be relying on maNotwane for assistance," Orapeleng said.
He added that the current society management model was one of the reasons behind the financial situation at Notwane. He said the arrangement is not working for the club. Orapeleng further refuted reports that the club is in talks with an unnamed Namibian entrepreneur who is linked with a takeover next season. The businessman is said to have investment in the Namibian elite football league and is looking to move to the eastern shores with Notwane in sight. "It is news to us but we are open to any business that would help alleviate the club's situation," said Orapeleng.
