Reports emerged that more players could be improperly registered
Gazette Reporter
Details of the illegal registration of Onkarabile Ratanang are emerging, pointing to an
irregular process of registering the player well after the transfer window closed. While the transfer window closed on September 30, the Township Rollers defender was only registered on October 29, Gazette Sport has learned.
The player’s improper registration has plunged football into uncertainty with Rollers now facing a massive points deduction as Ratanang has featured prominently for the Gaborone giants this season.
Last week Friday, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) announced the indefinite suspension of Phuthego Setete who was in charge of the registration process at the time. Setete has since left the BFA but is now banned from any football related activity after
he was implicated in the registration of Ratanang.
Township Rollers officials, Sidney Magagane and Motshegetsi Mafa have also been suspended pending a final determination before the Disciplinary Committee where their club will appear next month.
Ratanang’s issue has been referred to the Player Status Committee for a decision, with Rollers likely to be docked points.
Rollers issued a statement on Friday, accepting the BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) resolutions and promised to cooperate with the process.
This week, reports emerged that more players could be improperly registered but Botswana Football League (BFL) chairperson, Nicholas Zakhem said they could not deal with rumours.
“I don’t go by allegations but by fact. If true and we will get the name and we will handle it equally. The current player under question, the trail of the system shows fraud and the tempering with of the system.
I’m sure the one who is spreading rumours (of other players) if true, he will give us names (sic),” Zakhem said on Tuesday.
The NEC then decided to ban Setete indefinitely while also slapping suspensions on Magagane and Mafa. “Mr Setete usurped powers beyond him. Mr Mafa’s conduct cannot be ignored either. He had intention to commit wrong,” concluded a report on the
matter, which was handed to the NEC for a final decision