After being sidelined by Gaborone United (GU) for four months following suspension for alleged misconduct, striker Tebogo Sembowa can now don the red and white colours again as his suspension was lifted on Monday.
GU Spokesperson Kabelo Brown confirmed in an interview with Gazette Sport that Sembowa’s suspension has been lifted. Brown said they have come to an amicable resolution with Sembowa. He said “the decision made was on a win- win basis, taking into consideration the player and the team and our lengthy discussions.” According to Brown, Sembowa shall resume training with immediate effect and join the rest of the players at training.
“We met with him on Monday and we acknowledge that he has done mistakes and have forgiven him. Sembowa has also shown humility during his suspension and we find it appropriate to forgive him,” said Brown.
Sembowa was suspended together with teammates Mandla Mgadla and Jackie Mothatego in August for alleged misconduct. However after just few weeks Mgadla and Mothatego suspensions were lifted while Sembowa remained suspended. Gazette Sport investigations established that Sembowa was in the dark as he did not know why he was suspended in the first place. The hit-man has finally been cleared to play for Moyagoleleele again.
Even though Sembowa would relish a chance to play for GU again after waiting in the sidelines for too long, a competition for a place in Rahman Gumbo’s team will be another challenge ahead of him. In Gumbo’s preferred 4-4-2 formation, Sembowa will have to fight for the two available positions in GU strike-force. Sembowa now has stiff competition from the hard working Ronald Chikomo and the on-form Namibian hit-man Benson Shilongo.
As it stands, GU is the fourth best team in scoring goals when compared to all the other 15 teams in the league. According to the latest log standings, GU has scored 18 goals, a far cry from log leaders Township Rollers’ 31 goals. Sembowa will have to revive his last season scoring form to ensure GU is on par with other teams when it comes to scoring. Since he was signed from Township Rollers in the 2012/2013 season, Sembowa has been amongst GU’s top scorers, netting more than 20 goals since 2012 until now.
Sembowa will also have to fight for a place back into Zebras squad where Jerome Ramatlhakwane has been used as a lone striker in coach Peter Butler’s 4-5-1 formation. Sembowa has never disappointed when called for national duty in the absence of Ramatlhakwane last year, and has scored important goals for the national team.
Meanwhile GU has been fending off overtures from rivals Township Rollers who are interested in luring Sembowa back to their fold. Rollers even made an attempt in the past transfer window but GU was persistent that they will keep the striker. There is rife speculation that Sembowa might wait for his contract to end next year and leave GU for Rollers.