Transfer blues for Galaxy

Player exodus, unhappy with pay cut

‘I am getting non-stop calls from interested players’- Morake

Masitaoka beef up squad, T/Rollers hire new coach

VICTORIA MARUMO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Premier League Champions, Jwaneng Galaxy FC last week lost four players after their relationship went sour due to a cut on benefits and remuneration imposed by management, 15 months after football action was suspended.

The players are Fortunate Thulare, Katlego Mbise, Kelapile Ndlovu and Thero Setsile.  Setsile recently parted ways with Jwaneng Galaxy and decided to move on with his carreer. News coming in from Orapa United football Club is that the skillful winger -Setsile, has joined them on a two year deal. Speaking on the developments, Galaxy Public Relations Officer -Tankiso Morake, said it is normal during the transfer window for players to leave teams. However,  because of the status of the club it may raise a lot of interest when they lose players as their supporters may become cooncerned about the sudden separation.

Morake said they have parted ways with the players in question amicably due to their  dissatisfaction with new developments within the team.  In an attempt to adjust to the new normal, Morake said management had to revise contracts and wages based on their financial strength. The revision of wages meant that they cannot pay players like before during these trying times but had come to terms with a plan to allow them to get back on the field. “Football has been closed for over a year and as such sponsors leave when they don’t have any mileage to bank on. There is no income and we had to negotiate for renewal of contracts,” he explained.

Moreover, the team has taken the decision to do away with the signing on fee because of players’ agents demand lump sum payment. This comes back to bite them when at the end of a player’s contract, a severance package is expected with total disregard of the money put into the signing on fee at the beginning. Morake said this has created a gap for other teams that are still offering a signing on fee which could have also challenged the players to walk away.

Recruitment is ongoing for new players. Morake said his phone won’t stop buzzing with calls from interested players. “I spend most of my time telling them that coaches are the ones making the selection. One thing is certain though and that is we have young staff joining us, some who played for the national team,” he said, excitedly, reiterating that Jwaneng Galxy has been popular among players over the years because they go an extra mile to take care of their players even during the pandemic. Players who reside at Galaxy village do not pay rentals and are catered for after training sessions. 

In another development for the team, Coach Lesika ‘Six’ Keatlholetswe is set to return to work and train with the team after a short-lived separation. Morake said discussions are ongoing and should be finalized end of this week with hopes for a possible and official announcement next week.

Masitaoka FC

Masitaoka FC Team Manager Nelson Manelo Olebile confirmed that they recently signed former Orapa United left back Andrew Oabile Makopo and Jwaneng Galaxy Goalkeeper Katlego Mbise. “We are looking for a backbone and will add one player from the squad we have now because we don’t have a lot of competitions lined up,”Olebile added.  The team had new signings in the last season which has since been nullified but have also signed in new players during this transfer window; a decision he said was influenced by a need to create a balance within the team especially because some existing team players may not be fit to get back on the field after being away for so long. He highlighted that they have successfully resumed training  which is proving to be very hectic and challenging as it is the first of its kind for them to be training under tight regulations that need to be adhered to.  They are still adjusting to the new normal and are coping given the circumstances. “The technical team has been doing a very good job and we have had very few injuries and no Covid-19 related issues thus far.

We are on the right track.”he commended. Olebile further said while they are happy to be back on the field, it would be a lot more exciting if they had a remote idea on the future;  if there were match fixtures to motivate them and give them a sense of direction as they continue with training.

Rollers gaffer

Township Rollers FC Public Relations Officer, Bafana Pheto said the team has signed up former Gaborone United player Phenyo Lebopo and are keen on signing more players during the current transfer window.

Meanwhile, Township Rollers FC has appointed Oktay Hassan as the next Head coach.Oktay, is a Turkish-born UK resident. He is an ex professional player, highly qualified and ambitious coach with over 25 years experience coaching across the world, with extensive stints in Europe, Asia and Africa, working closely with squads to improve and progress teams and individual players. Hassan is renowned for exceptional coaching, man management and player development skills to build teams capable of progressing to a higher level. He incorporates strength; conditioning and fitness into training sessions to make sure optimal status of players are of the standard needed in professional football.

He last coached competitively for Gor Mahia during the 2018/2019 season, in Kenya where he won the League and was Coach of the Year.  He took Gor Mahia to the Group Stages of the CAF Inter Club Competitions. Since then, he has been working with Academies in the UK. Oktay Hassan holds a UEFA A License as well as other qualifications from the English FA.