Mmegi

Captaincy controversy at GU

Issues: Kgaswane PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Issues: Kgaswane PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Gaborone United (GU) have down played down reports of a fallout between head coach, Pontsho ‘Piro’ Moloi and Mpho Kgaswane. This follows unsubstantial information that the talented attacking midfielder has been stripped of the captaincy.

In last week's Premier League game, Mothusi Johnson, who has been the vice-captain to Kgaswane, captained the side against Maitaoka.

Kgaswane was part of the playing squad but was not handed the armband. This raised eyebrows with questions as to whether Kgaswane had lost the captaincy or not. Sources told MmegiSport this week that Kgaswane was demoted after an altercation with 'Piro' at the training ground. The source said the player was expelled from training after an argument with Moloi.

“The coach sent him out of the field and he then announced Johnson as captain a day after the incident where Kgaswane was still not allowed to come to training,” the source revealed. Moloi and Kgaswane reportedly reconciled after a meeting. GU brand and marketing manager, Herbert Letsebe, confirmed an altercation between Moloi and Kgaswane but downplayed the incident. He said people were making a 'mountain out of a molehill'. “Everybody knows in training coaches always have altercations with their players. I remember that day (Moloi) was not shouting at Kgaswane alone but almost at every player as GU had a string of poor results and there is no time to pamper anyone,” he said. Letsebe insisted Kgaswane is still the captain despite not wearing the armband on Saturday. “Johnson, Kgaswane, and Tshepho Maikano are all captains of GU.

It is up to them who wears the armband on the day and Kgaswane is still the senior captain of the team,” Letsebe explained. Letsebe said Kgaswane asked to be relieved of the captaincy role as it took a toll on him. “Kgaswane felt that the armband was too heavy that he asked that he be removed. He felt it was affecting his performance as during the game, he has to focus on other players not just himself,” Letsebe said. He said Kgaswane not wearing the armband is solely the player's decision as the club cannot stand in his way if he wants to step down.

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