LETLHOGILE MPUANG
Gaborone United Elders Committee are said to have decided against the idea of leasing the club to former investor Nicolas Zackhem. Since the departure of Zackhem, the Reds have succumbed to serious financial blows, which have resulted in the club failing to pay their employees, and star players heading for the exit door.
FIFA also recently slapped the cash strapped Gaborone giants with a US$5000 fine plus US$39 500 owed to former player player Bismark Appiah and the subsequent interest. GU were instructed to pay Appiah within a 30 day period, beginning on 26th July.
“Anyone who fails to pay another person (such as a player, a coach or a club) or FIFA a sum of money in full or part, even though instructed to do so by a body, a committee or an instance of FIFA or a subsequent CAS appeal decision (financial decision), or anyone who fails to comply with another decision (non-financial decision) passed by a body, a committee or an instance of FIFA, or by CAS (subsequent appeal decision): will be fined for failing to comply with a decision; or will be granted a final deadline by the judicial bodies of FIFA in which to pay the amount due or to comply with the (non-financial) decision; or (only for clubs:) will be warned and notified that, in the case of default or failure to comply with a decision within the period stipulated, points will be deducted or relegation to a lower division ordered. A transfer ban may also be pronounced,” reads the order from FIFA.
In his bid to save GU, Zackhem recently tabled a proposal to the Elders Committee, which would see him take over the club for a period of 15 years. The construction mogul also proposed that he will loan the club money amounting to P 700 000 to pay for the liabilities that have become overdue.
The proposal further includes buying a 60-seater coach in the first three years of the agreement and also erecting a mini stadium to be used to host GU’s home games, but this would take place if land is provided for such a project.
Nevertheless, according to the latest developments, the divided Elders Committee have rejected Zac’s proposal for reasons unknown. GU Executive Committee Chairman Boitumelo Nsunge said he could not deny the reports, referring this reporter to the Elders Committee.
Tymon Katlholo, a member of the said committee, told Gazette Sport that they had not rejected Zac’s proposal but they were working on a counter proposal.
“No, we have not rejected Zac’s proposal, we are still looking at it, and after we have looked at it, we will respond to Mr Zackhem,” he told this reporter.
“We believe that the proposal has certain legal implications that we must not overlook, but we will respond soon. We are also working on a counter proposal, that we believe all parties will be happy with,” said Katlholo.
He also confirmed that they will be having a meeting with the club’s executive committee this week to further map the way forward.