Newsmakers

Calistus Kolantsho | Monday December 16, 2013 15:22

 

Mogakolodi Ngele

Without doubt, the Zebras striker was the best Botswana export in the South African Premiership this year. Ngele joined Platinum Stars last season and his team finished second in the league.

He scored about 10 goals in his first season. This year, Ngele proved to be one of the key players for his side. He helped Platinum Stars reach the final of the MTN 8 where they defeated Orlando Pirates in the final through a penalty shootout. Ngele scored one of the penalties. A fortnight ago, Ngele's Platinum Stars again met Pirates in the final, this time in the Telkom Knockout Cup. He started from the bench and when he came on in the second half, Pirates were leading 1-0. His arrival changed the whole complexion of the game and Stars looked more dangerous going forward. He equalised from a tight angle, proving once again his finishing prowess. Ngele went on to score the winner, this time a cracking goal from outside the box.

His exploits in the colours of Platinum Stars have not gone unnoticed with South African big guns said to be interested in him. His agent, Mike Makaab, however, insists that their priority is to take him overseas.

 

Gift Mogapi

2013 will be best remembered as the year three Premier League sides, Township Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, BMC and Notwane turned professional. Although the decision to privatise Rollers was taken at a meeting in November last year, the new owners, Township Holdings, started real work this year.

Both BMC and Rollers' transformations were without problems. In fact, their matters are before the courts as some 'members' of the clubs are challenging the whole process.

However it was without doubt, the Notwane story that has been more interesting. Of all the teams that managed to privatise this year, Notwane was the only one, which fell in the hands of a Motswana by birth. His name is Gift Mogapi.

Mogapi through his company, GMG, acquired 80 percent of the team at a ceremony held in Gaborone. His arrival brought hope to the Notwane faithful who have seen their team struggle financially, in the end losing key players to other competitors.

Mogapi promised to assist the team gain access to resources and take them out of the financial doldrums. He immediately signed two South African players, Manqoba Ngwenya and Benedict Vilakazi. At some point, he was linked to coaches, Shakes Mashaba and Simon Ngomane.

However, a few months down the line, reports of unpaid players salaries as well as accommodation started coming out with Mogapi said to be in South Africa at the time.

Both Vilakazi and Ngwenya threatened to terminate their contracts and were eventually released following a decision by the Players Status Committee. While everyone was wondering what was happening at Notwane, Mogapi accused the media, among others, of trying to pull him down. He recently attacked the media at a press conference called by the Botswana Premier League. The BPL board had just taken a decision to stand by him despite all reports coming from Notwane. However, few days later, they met at an emergency meeting and relieved him of his position as the vice chairperson of the board. Some members of the team have since decided to take the team away from him and have approached the courts over the matter. An interim committee has been chosen and will run the affairs of the team in the meantime.

 

Stanley Tshosane

Zebras without doubt never failed to make headlines. Following a series of disappointing results, many had called for coach Stanley Tshosane's sacking but the Botswana Football Association (BFA) decided to stand by him. With the team's performance declining each time, the BFA finally parted ways with Tshosane while he was away on sick leave. The recruitment process continues to replace him.  

 

Bobby Shillinde

In the era of easy access to information, Botswana football unsurprisingly found itself in the news for the wrong reasons again. As the desperation to have a quality national team side grew, one Bobby Shillinde found an opportunity to dupe the country. Shillinde was the 'Wimbledon' player who never was. He had been called up to the national team camp as the Zebras were preparing for the World Cup qualifiers. Thanks to a columnist at The Guardian of the United Kingdom, Shillinde clearly came out not to be the player that the country was made to believe he is. He has never played for Wimbledon. He enjoyed free air ticket and accommodation courtesy of the Botswana Football Association (BFA), only to go back a few days later as the news about who he really was came out. Once again, the football fraternity had not learnt anything from the Oscar Kubara debacle.

 

Nijel Amos

Amos became a household name after winning the 2013 Olympics silver medal in the men's 800 metros race, the first Olympics medal for Botswana. His time of 1:41:73 established a new World Junior Record. Amos is now known as Dj Zoro after getting involved in the music industry. The athlete stopped his training after suffering an injury during training in South Africa early this year. His involvement in the music industry did not go well with most Batswana, including his Olympics coach, Mogomotsi Otsetswe. Amos was also involved in a car accident that left tongues wagging. Some commentators feared that he could be losing interest in athletics, where he made a name for himself. It remains to be seen if Amos will get his priorities right in 2014. 

 

Amantle Montsho

The Maun-born Montsho remains the best runner in the country. She continued to hoist the country's flag high in international competitions. She won IAAF Diamond League in the 400 metres category. Montsho was the favourite to win this year's World Championship title but she lost to Christine Ohuruogu after she failed to dip at the finish line.

 

Olopeng

It came as a shock to First Division North Chairperson Eatametse Olopeng when the Disciplinary Committee (DC) informed him that charges that were levelled against him had been withdrawn. Olopeng had been on suspension for more than 12 months. The withdrawal of the charges was due to the death of a key witness. The suspension came after he made a sworn statement to support Police XI when they challenged the decision to be stripped off of their membership of the Botswana Football Asociation (BFA). Olopeng has promised to get back his position to continue taking part in the development of football.

 

Groth

Khaya Groth continues to grow every year. This year he made headlines after dominating both the local and regional competitions. His exploits earned him a place at the World Karate Federation (WKF) Junior Championships held in Madrid, Spain last month. The Madrid-based tournament took place last month. He was a nominee in the Junior Male athlete category at this year's Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) awards.