The club leadership over the weekend told the general membership that the majority of the squad has absconded and only 12 players remain, with the addition of the two junior players ahead of the new season.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Saturday, club chairperson, Thatayaone Mhutshiwa said the financial situation at Gunners has hindered the club from negotiating new contracts with the players. Furthermore, Gunners have been slapped with a transfer ban over debt by FIFA for former club captain, Desire Bafana. The debt is just under P400,000.
Meanwhile,Gunners have already parted with former captain, Omphile Vissagie, Brendon Kenosi, Keeagile Kgosipula, Anderson Mokolotwane and Thapelo Calvin Thebeyagae in the current transfer window. Mhutshiwa said some of the contracted players at Gunners, notably Bakang Leshona and Dirang Moloi have not reported for duty since the start of the preseason training over unpaid dues. “We do not have players and more may leave the club. We have parted ways with six players thus far but in training only 12 players showed up, two are from development but we cannot sign players because of the Bafana issue at FIFA, we have been suspended. Players are leaving and they are being sold by us, the Gunners family. I believe we do not love this club and with how things are going we will find ourselves at the lowest levels of our football,” he said.
Mhutshiwa also revealed that the club is facing difficulties to secure an investor due to the society status at the Gunners. The Lobatse giants had previously set up commercial entities, Gunners Holding and FC Gunners. “Potential investors are there, and they have shown the will to join and invest in Gunners. But the stumbling block has been the society. We then tried to check on these companies, but the society owns 100% of these companies, so we have called you here today to map a way for investors to come and help Gunners.
Investors are there, they are just waiting for us,” he said.
The Mhutshiwa led executive committee assumed office in June and the chairperson has said there has not been a smooth transition from the previous committees. He said the club on daily basis is receiving letters of demand over owed monies from former coaches and players alike. Recently,former full back, Boitumelo ‘Bashen’ Modisaotsile has demanded P128,000 owed since 2015. Gunners’ debt is said to be over P2million and Mohutshiwa predicts it could rise to P5million by the end of the next season.
‘Mapantsola’ are preparing for football in the second-tier league after relegating for the first time in the club history in the previous campaign. Coach, Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare has since committed a further year with the Peleng based side. Gunners have meanwhile secured a technical sponsor with Umbro after parting ways with local sportswear brand, Dlala. The club also reached a milestone of having a supporter's branch outside the shores of the country with a new branch formed in the USA. The newly formed USA branch is to be officially launched before the start of the next football season.
