Volume 52 Issue 04 - April 2014 : Heritage

Soccer enthusiasts have been shocked by the unruly behaviour displayed at the National Stadium during Easter weekend, culminating in the action by the President of the Botswana Football Association in reporting Gaborone United to an emergency meeting of the body executive which has fined United R100 and ordered them to return the champion of champions trophy.

It all started when claims were made by two clubs as to which was to play host to Mbabane Highlanders of Swaziland.

Two rival teams, Gaborone United and Township Rollers said the Swaziland side was in Botswana at their invitation.

Mbabane Highlanders were to have arrived on God Friday, but said they were delayed by poor transport. 

Their schedule for the weekend included a tour of Gaborone on Sunday and their return to Swaziland on Monday.

Arrangements had been made for them to play both on Friday and Saturday, but because the visitors were late they could only play one club that was then to give them a game.

The Secretary of Gaborone United, Mr. Moirwagale said that all arrangements between the Highlanders and Rollers were made in Gaborone soon after the arrival of the Highlanders. 

He said Rollers had all along publicised their engagements with Montshioa Swallows of Mafeking and Naughty Boys of Pietersburg for the weekend. 

It was only a week before Easter when the Rollers match with Montshioa Swallows was cancelled, that Rollers started publicising a match against Mbabane Highlanders, when he said it was clear that they were coming to Botswana at the invitation of Gaborone United.

The Vice-Secretary of Township Rollers, Mr. P. Bagwasi, said that his club had a substantial claim to the visitors. He said they had received a letter confirming the match and the use of the National Stadium had been booked for his club. 

The matter was passed on to the Botswana Football Association for arbitration. 

Mr. Ray Molomo, the President of the Botswana Football Association, met with the officials of both clubs in the President Hotel for a decision.

Mr. Molomo said that the claim GU submitted might have been legitimate but stated that, he was not given the opportunity to hear the claims of both clubs. He said that some of the officials of Gaborone United had man-handled him. He was able to leave the Hotel after the Police had been called to the scene. 

Mr. Molomo further stated that the unruly behaviour of Gaborone United`s officials was not representative and not the example to be set by a top team.

The Police then advised that the games for the afternoon be called off as it was clear that many people had become dissatisfied.

At the stadium in the afternoon, Gaborone United officials and players were refused entry by officials of Township Rollers at the stadium gates. They gained entry into the stadium by going over the fence. 

It was then that they started occupying the pitch and refused to leave when ordered to by Mr. Molomo.

Although Gaborone United claimed to be hosts to Mbabane Highlanders, they had been booked to use the Prison`s as their venue.The Manager of Mbabane Highlanders, Mr. Isaiah Ngcampalala said that his side had come to Botswana at the invitation of Township Rollers.

“We finalised the arrangements for Easter when Rollers visited Lesotho early last month for football competitions,” he said.

He added that his club had received an invitation earlier this year from Gaborone United, but that the match was called off.

Gaborone United was removed from the field when the Commissioner of Police, Lt. Col. Bailey was called on to the scene by the BFA.

The match with Rollers began late in the evening and Rollers, who secured an early lead over the visitors, were, however, beaten by 2 goals to 1. Ends

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