GU in smooth transition
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Saturday February 17, 2024 06:00
The Reds reminded its supporters this week that it now operates as Gaborone United Football Club as opposed to a sporting club, a process that was completed two years ago.
The club’s marketing and communications manager, Hebert Letsebe told Mmegi Sport yesterday that the daily operations of the club are performed by fulltime employees of the company.
He said the executive committee’s role now mainly lies with coordinating supporters unlike in the past where it dealt with daily operations of the club including recruitment of players. Local football clubs have in the last 10 years tried the privatization route but some faced serious challenges along the way, emanating from internal factional wars.
The likes of Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Township Rollers and recently Extension Gunners have tried and failed. GU on other hand now fully operates as a company and Letsebe said the transition has been smooth transition. “If you are aware, this decision was taken by the supporters to hand 80 percent of the shares to Nicholas Zakhem.
There are no major challenges that we encountered. The only minor thing was supporters’ education. Some supporters were left behind in understanding what this thing means, that Zakhem holds 80 percent and 20 percent is in the hands of supporters,” he said. He also clarified confusion surrounding another company by the name of Soccer Dynamics Investment. He said there is no truth in reports, which were doing rounds that the company owns 100 percent shares in the club. He said Soccer Dynamic does not exist anymore and was formed by the then executive committee of the club as per requirements of the club licensing. He said by then the club was still operating as a society and the company was formed so that it could generate income for the club. Letsebe said the current arrangement is a big achievement for the club.
He said Zakhem is a well-known businessman who has been helping the club financially. “The players have been getting paid on time, and the club is now attractive to sponsors as you are aware, we received P3 million sponsorship from Bank Gaborone. This is now a company dealing with another company,” Letsebe said.
He also said the structures of the club are now organized and growing as evidenced by the strength of their development sides and the women’s team. “Having a women’s team is now a requirement from CAF and changing this club into a company brought such advantages of having a ladies side.
As we speak right now, this is one of the strongest teams in the country,” he said. Letsebe said their targets going forward have not changed and their aim is to continue to dominate the local league. He said that their target is also to be perennial participants in CAF competitions every year, as this will help the brand and players grow. “We have already gained recognition in the continent because of our participation in CAF competitions. After our game against AS Vita in the CAF Champions League, our shirt was rated as one of the top 10 in the continent in terms of design.
That is the growth we want to see,” he said. He said the club now has its own village at the old BIAC ground after getting into a lease agreement with the government. The facility includes a mini stadium with some developments still ongoing. “Dressing rooms, conference rooms and offices have already been built there,” he said. Letsebe said these are part of the club’s growth and that all these achievements are as a result of the club operating as a company.