Sebata delay decision on Rollers assets
Friday, May 02, 2025 | 260 Views |
On the move: Township Rollers bus PIC: TRFC
These assets include a bus for the men's team, a mini-bus for the women's side, six vehicles for executive management and staff. Sebata also secured office space, accommodation for staff players and reached an agreement for the lease of the Royal Aria Stadium. The initial agreement was that Sebata Holdings invest P7 million per season over the next five years, to be used for operations. Now the future of the assets is unclear following the company's decision to pull the plug on the five-year deal, just a year after the signing. It was all pomp and fan fare when the company's director, Tendani Sebata and Rollers chairperson, Bafana Pheto, on behalf of the Society, penned the deal. However, all has not gone according to plan with reports pointing to a relationship that long struck the iceberg, leading to the eventual demise of a promising partnership this week
In a press statement, Sebata confirmed the withdrawal of "all commercial and operational involvement with Township Rollers." "This decision follows a comprehensive internal review and legal consultation, which identified significant compliance and governance issues surrounding the nature of the club's ownership and its regulatory obligations under the Botswana Football League (BFL) and Botswana Football Association (BFA) frameworks," the statement reads. Sebata's contention is that the Rollers committee misrepresented issues of ownership structure as well as failing to inform the BFL and BFA over the foreign takeover of the club. While Sebata has severed ties with Rollers, the group will continue to meet its obligation of paying staff salaries until the end of the season.
As the Botswana National Front (BNF) discusses a policy to place suitably qualified members in strategic positions, the guiding consideration should remain whether an individual is the best person to serve the country. There is nothing wrong with qualified party members applying for public positions. Political affiliation should neither disqualify a capable candidate nor give them an advantage over others. Every Motswana deserves a fair...