Rollers Withdraw Nato Appeal From CAS
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Monday September 19, 2016 14:59
Rollers secretary, Khumoyame Masonya told club members during a special general meeting in Gaborone on Saturday that the management had withdrawn the case.
He said the new Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Maclean Letshwiti had asked the club to withdraw the case. He said Rollers did not have a problem withdrawing the case, but advised the association to speak to Gilport Lions as well since they are also part of the case.
He said the likes of new club president, Jagdish Shah managed to meet officials from Gilport Lions and the club management last week then decided to withdraw the case for the sake of progress.
“The case has officially been withdrawn as confirmed by CAS last Thursday,” Masonya told Rollers supporters. He said the case was taking longer than they had initially expected and was going to cost the club around P1.3 million.
“Remember that the league prize money for the winners is P1 million. We were going to spend P1.3 million and we had already spent P5 million looking for that P1 million prize money. It did not make business sense although we would have loved CAS to give the country direction on the matter,” he said. He said they have since asked the BFA to seek guidance from FIFA on whether the player was properly registered or not.
Rollers are now expected to be declared league champions for the 2015/2016 season. During a media briefing a fortnight ago, BFA president, Letshwiti said there were no champions since there was still a matter at CAS.
He told journalists at the time that both Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Rollers would each receive P500, 000 in the meantime while the association awaits CAS’ decision. The balance was then going to be paid to the winners after CAS had made a determination on the matter.
The meeting endorsed financier, Jagdish Shah as the new club president. Shah replaced Dickson Gabanakgosi who resigned from the position he assumed in January. Shah was co-opted by the executive committee led by club chairperson, Walter Kgabung. During their special general meeting held at Marang Junior School in Gaborone on Saturday, all the Rollers supporters who were present endorsed the committee’s decision. Shah will now serve the club as the president in the society as well as well as continue as the club’s financier.
Kgabung assured Rollers’ membership that the position is just ceremonial and the person who holds the position does not have any executive powers like other committee members. “There is no conflict because even though he does hold a position in the society, he does not have executive powers to make decisions for the society. He holds executive position in the company or arm that funds the club. So there is no conflict at all,” Kgabung said.
Kgabung also informed members that the new constitution, which now caters for investors, has been approved by the Registrar of Societies and is currently in use. He said they are now in the process of sealing a deal with Shah to lease the team to him for 15 years as agreed by the general membership at the January general meeting.
Meanwhile, Rollers next annual general meeting (AGM) has been scheduled for June 29 next year.