BONGANI MALUNGA
Clubs participating in the Joy Foundation Sports Development’s new tournament, The Super Power Cup 2017, are confident that they will not see a repeat of the controversy that engulfed the foundation in 2012 where clubs complained of not receiving prize money and appearance fees.
In 2012, the foundation held a one day tournament at UB Stadium named the Joy Foundation Cup which featured Extension Gunners, Gaborone United, Ecco City Greens and Mochudi Centre Chiefs. Controversy followed as clubs complained of not receiving their due payments, Gunners won the competition but spent months without receiving their P100 000 prize money, they had only received their appearance fee.
GU and Chiefs went public and revealed that they had not received their appearance fees months after the tournament, Moyagoleele eventually received their payment five months later. At the time, the tournament and foundation founder Joy Setshedi explained that they encountered a last minute problem as an investor pulled out at the eleventh hour because the competition was not recognized by the Botswana Football Association.
Setshedi explained that the sponsor’s snub cost them dearly as they had already made agreements with clubs and they had made only P74 000 through gate takings. The tournament which was initially planned to be an annual event never saw the light of day for many years.
This year, the foundation has returned with the Super Power Cup which will feature Centre Chiefs, TAFIC and Zimbabwean pair Dynamos and Highlanders FC, the tournament will take place at the Francistown Sports Complex on August 19.
“The difference this year is that the foundation has been granted permission by the BFA. They were given the green light to host the turnament. The last time we sat down with the foundation and understood the difficulties they went through and we made peace. Now, we have come up with a new direction, this time there are contracts available as compared to last time. We believe and trust that the contracts will be honoured,” said a source from Chiefs’ management team.
Reached for comment, Setshedi acknowledged that they are aware that their proposed date for the tournament comes a day after the Botswana Premier League’s target of a August 18 kickoff, she explained that the BPL’s estimated date is only a draft.
“The Constitution clearly states that the league should kick off two weeks after the BPL General Assembly, which is slated for August 12. Our date will not disturb this development, our date is well within the pre season period, the proposed BPL fixtures are draft fixtures and they have not been finalised. The participating teams will arrive two days before the tournament, we have received clearances from the BFA, the BPL as well as the Zimbabwean Premier League,” Setshedi told Gazette Sport.
BFA Public Relations Officer Tumo Mpatane briefly confirmed that the Super Power Cup has been granted the “blessing of the BFA.”