Cracks emerge in Sharps' P10,000 takeover
Mqondisi Dube | Friday July 26, 2019 12:36
One of the team elders, Tshepo Meswele, who is also the club’s kit manager, has written a letter to the management, demanding explanation on the recent changes.
Sharps began a transformative process in 2015, when it changed its name from Sharps Electrical, after severing ties with sponsor, Sharps Electrical.
This comes after one of the club’s executives, Isaac Chilisa indicated that they had identified ‘someone’ who could help the team with finances. Meswele said problems began after the death of one of the club’s founders, Charles Chilisa in 2013.
In 2015, Isaac and the late Charles Chilisa’s son, Kobamelo assumed ownership of the team, transforming it from a society and into a company.
The two had filed intention to change the name from Sharps Electrical to Sharps Shooting Stars with the Registrar of Societies.
Records show that the other proposed company names were Sharps Shooters (Pty) Ltd and Naledi Stars (Pty) Ltd. Meswele said members were unaware, since the club was a society and not a company.
In August 2018, the club was sold to Gobuiwang, and Meswele argues that it was un-procedural as none of the club members were consulted.
Instead, he accuses Isaac Chilisa of using players, instead of the members’ signatures, to effect the transfer.
Records show that Gobuiwang purchased 100% shares to the value of P10,000, after the brothers relinquished their 50% shareholding each. But Meswele is unhappy and said members want answers. He said the late Charles Chilisa’s widow had handed the running of the team over to him, but was surprised to later learn that the club had been sold.
This week, he wrote a letter to the club manager, demanding answers on recent developments.
“I, Tshepo Meswele, as a committee member of Sharps Shooting Stars, would like to inform you that I am not satisfied with the administration of the team ever since year 2016 to date. Can I please have a thorough explanation as to what has happened,” Meswele wrote.
Another member, who preferred anonymity, said as far as they know, the team had not been sold, and still belongs to the community.
Isaac Chilisa said he was in Johannesburg when Mmegi Sport sought his comment, and could only respond when he is back in the country next Monday.Gobuiwang declined to comment on the matter.Disgruntled members are reportedly prepared to approach the courts to seek redress.