BMC chaos could scupper partnership talks

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday May 31, 2013 00:00

 

BMC chairman, Sonny Phiri, warded off his deputy Tiro Kganela, coach Daniel Nare, marketing manager Nelson Radijeng and Donald Mopako over disciplinary issues. The quartet was fingered for charming players to write a letter giving him the sack. The players were irked by Phiri's remarks over their recent poor run of form after they lost 1-0 to recently crowned league champions, Mochudi Centre Chiefs. Phiri, by his own admission, threatened to deduct P500 from each player's salary because of the poor performances.

Senior players, including Musa Ohilwe, Leutwetse Tshireletso, Kenanao 'Flo' Kgetholetsile, Kemmy Pilato and Patrick Mathaba then met at the coach's house with the suspended officials to register their dislike of the chairman's post-match remarks. Following that meeting, the players wrote a letter giving the axe to Phiri.His reaction was the suspensions of the quartet, barely three days before the crucial talks with Ghodrati, who is reportedly keen to finance the club after Botswana Meat Commission pulls out next week. Phiri is well aware the suspensions might have a negative bearing on the talks as Nare and Radijeng were meant to be part of today's meeting. Ghodrati is said to have requested to meet Nare in Friday's meeting to hear out his plans for next season.

However, Phiri insists indiscipline must be acted upon despite the possibility of jeopardising the deal. 'We should act on indiscipline (although I am aware) an investor will not want to partner a team that is unstable. Should the potential buyer feel there is too much noise, we will take other routes,' Phiri told Mmegi Sport.Radijeng, who is yet to receive his letter of suspension, said he learnt of the development through social networks.

Radijeng, who spoke from South Africa where he had traveled on personal business, was instrumental in the negotiations. The talks kicked off with a proposal and presentation led by Radijeng and a run through the budget.The former Extension Gunners public relations officer lashed out at his boss saying it was not the right time to entertain petty politics.'I wonder if the deal will go through at all, we should concentrate on getting a new partner and not petty politics,' Radijeng said.

He confirmed that in last meeting the New Era managing director had requested to meet the coach today and questioned if the suspended mentor will still be part of the talks. Meanwhile, Phiri explained that the talks were not necessarily outright sale talks.'The deal is not about sale, it's sort of a partnership,' he said. Phiri added that their problems started when their parent company announced they were pulling out. The Lobatse side failed to reproduce the form that saw them finish runners up last season.The prospective partner, Ghodrati, owns New Era College in Gaborone and is also a writer with extensive experience in many endeavours. Born in 1955 and educated as an engineer, he traveled to over 25 countries.His latest book, The Patriarch's Family was inspired by a personal experience. Should a deal be sealed, indications are that Ghodrati will move the club from Lobatse to Block 8 in Gaborone.