On the other hand, it is a given that when a team is performing poorly, it is normal for all sorts of negative news to emerge from that club’s camp. It is therefore baffling that, despite TAFIC's good run in the Debswana First Division North league, there is an ugly situation at the club, reportedly driven by the arrival of a new sponsor, Petrohyper, an oil and gas products distribution company.
For now, it is not yet clear if those jostling for positions at TAFIC are motivated by the lust for power or financial considerations. While legions of TAFIC fans are holding their breath that the club will be promoted to the elite league, news coming from the club’s camp has the potential to destroy those prospects.
Last week, TAFIC was in the news for the wrong reasons following the absence of their coach, Mohambi Saulosi, from the bench when the team was playing Sankoyo Bush Bucks. News emerged from TAFIC that Saulosi was sacked by the club for failure to submit a technical report to the club. By then, TAFIC chairperson, Tumelo Toteng refuted allegations that Saulosi had been sacked.
Toteng told MmegiSport that the coach was attending a coaching course in Jwaneng and will resume his responsibilities upon return. However, Saulosi contradicted Toteng. “I had a misunderstanding with the executive of the club and I was asked to temporarily step aside. They (executive) said they will get back to me. I am waiting for a response,” he said.
The positive news is that both parties have since buried the hatchet and Saulosi is expected to resume his duties at the Leseding Grounds-based club next week Monday. But on Wednesday evening, TAFIC was trending for the wrong reasons after Toteng, an attorney by profession, resigned. Toteng said he decided to call it quits at the former Premier League giants because the club's former chairperson, Thomas Maika and his allies were accusing him of mismanaging the club. Even if the accusation holds water, they will surely not go down well with TAFIC fans who are hell-bent on seeing their team gets promoted to the Premier League next season.
This is more so because TAFIC survived relegation from the First Division by a whisker last season. But Maika refuted allegations he was behind Toteng's departure. He told Mmegi Sport that the management at TAFIC was best placed to answer that question. “I can’t comment on what you are asking me. Please direct that question to the relevant people (TAFIC management),” Maika said.
Maika also quashed allegations that he told Toteng that he was mismanaging TAFIC because he (Toteng) has no history or attachment with the club before he became its chairperson. On the positive side, there are reports that some club elders have started reconciliation talks with Toteng and TAFIC with a view to persuading him to rescind his resignation. This, however, remains to be seen. But the upshot of the negative news coming from TAFIC has surely soiled its image before its current and potential sponsors.
