Team ownership in Botswana has always been a controversial, if not divisive issue. From the ownership ‘circus’ at Township Rollers, Gaborone United, Notwane and Mochudi Centre Chiefs, to the recent and already ended acquisition of BMC by the Ghodratti family, club ownership in Botswana has not been without drama. As much as we would want well off club owners to pump money in our teams and advance our football; to a large extent these acquisitions are riddled with deceit and a lot of dishonesty.
Over the past few years, Township Rollers, Gaborone United, Centre Chiefs, Notwane and BMC have been acquired by businessmen who brought renewed hope to the teams. Despite some resistance from some quarters, the Rollers, GU and Centre Chiefs acquisitions still stand, albeit without drama. To some extent, some have worked, some haven’t. The only one that seems to be without much drama is that of Gaborone United, while the others have been a ‘circus’. The Notwane acquisition by one Gift Mogapi was the worst of the lot, brought misery to the team and its supporters and ended even before it bore any fruits. It was a painful time for Notwane faithful, when they realised that they had been sold a dummy while they thought they had found a saviour.
