beMobile Premier League side Notwane are in line to face disciplinary action from the Botswana Premier League’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) after playing an official league game with kits that did not have beMobile and Premier League branding. The side slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Orapa United at SSKB on Saturday, however, the defeat will be the least of their problems as charges and player revolts loom for the club.
The club faces the prospect of being charged for what the BPL deems misconduct and a violation of the Premier League’s agreement with their main sponsors. Information reaching this publication states that Toronto breached league rules because a team that participates in an official league match with a kit that does not have the sponsor’s logo also violates the compliance manual that must be followed by all league clubs.
BPL chief executive officer, Bennet Mamelodi, told Gazette Sport that they are awaiting the match commissioner’s report. “The match commissioner’s report will be sent to the office of the chiefprosecutor for interpretation. The DC will handle the case and if found guilty, they will be charged with misconduct,” he stated.
This reporter has also established that the punishment will not include any deduction of points but that the club will be served with a potentially heavy fine. Mamelodi also revealed that the club’s players had attached a letter that was sent by the club’s mother body in which they indicated their willingness to boycott the game against Orapa United.
The request was rejected because it was reportedly sent on the eve of the league clash. It was was sent after the players had refused to train during the wee; the revolt was meant to send a message to the club’s executive chairman, Gift Mogapi. The players’ salaries have allegedly been unpaid for the past few months and they had threatened to boycott then club’s games until their concerns were addressed.
South African duo Benedict Vilakazi and Manqoba Ngwenya have dominated the headlines this past weeks after voicing their frustrations. Another player, Thulani Moyo, has also joined the South Africans’ push to terminate their contracts with the club. The Zimbabwean player has joined the former Premier Soccer League (PSL) stars as they await the Players Status Committee’s decision over the termination of their contracts. They stated that promises made to them by the club’s chairman were not honoured hence them looking for a gateway to escape the situation.
Meanwhile, Mogapi’s position in the BPL board could also be the subject of a potential special general meeting in which his place may be discussed. Sources have claimed that the BPL board is likely to take action in order to divert negative attention from the controversial situation. Mogapi was elected by his peers into the vice chairman’s position and they reportedly have the powers do reverse the decision if the controversy continues.