Last year, Sebata acquired 80 percent stake in Rollers, through its investment arm, Popa Popa Investments which gave him control of Botswana's most successful club for five years. But the deal has failed to last a full season after Sebata told Rollers yesterday that he was disinvesting from the team. A press statement from Sebata Consolidated Holdings indicates that the group had invested more than P22 million in the club, through paying salaries and acquiring assets, among others. However, it is unclear what will happen to the assets but Sebata group media liaison, Nqobile Ndlovu, speaking through the phone from South Africa, said the investor is not effectively seeking compensation for his investment. "At the moment there is no recourse. However, Sebata reserves the right to pursue available legal avenues," Ndlovu said.
He could not commit on whether Sebata will continue paying players' salaries following yesterday's announcement. "That position is unclear. The season is almost over, I don't think he (Sebata) will be averse to making sure players are paid." Ndlovu said the Rollers committee has not been forthcoming to meet Sebata to resolve outstanding ownership and compliance issues. "We have gone through a process of trying to meet each other on a number of instances and they have not responded; part of the reason we are here. We tried our best to meet so that we move forward. Ours was a long term investment but certain issues came to light which we questioned. It is not that we are not willing to meet them. It has been a couple of months trying to engage," Ndlovu said. He said the Rollers committee only responded following legal intervention. "Even then there was no commitment," he said.
