Magosi revival on

• Clears debt with ex coach
• Intensify search for new Head coach
• Zim coach, Elias Chinyemba, demands payment

JOSEPH KGAMANYANE

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Despite continued controversy that has become synonymous with the mighty Mochudi Center Chiefs football club, the newly elected executive committee leading the Kgatleng giants are confident that they can improve its fortunes and return to glory days.

The new committee, chaired by promising Edwin Mothulatshipi, which recently took charge of the troubled club  is looking to transform and restore the respect  Magosi  was once known of during its reign in the premier league. Following its relegation to first division, Magosi has since been embroiled in financial problems which were mainly as a result of divisions amongst the club’s leadership.  What might be possibly signs of light at the end of the tunnel, Magosi has reportedly finally resolved their matter with their former Zimbabwean coach, Philani Mabena whom they owed about P121 000.00. Mabena along with another Zimbabwean Coach, Bongani Mafu who also claimed Chiefs owed him about P450 000.00 reported the matter to the world football governing body, FIFA. FIFA however dismissed Mafu’s case and only ordered for Mabena to be paid his dues by Magosi. 

“That issue has been closed. We have paid him the full amount he was owed,” revealed the club’s spokesperson, Olebile Sikwane. Sikwane who also doubles as the new Vice Chairperson was however quick to clear that the  amount was paid by the former committee just days before their Annual General Meeting (AGM).

That as it may, in what could possibly emerge as another drawback, another Zimbabwean coach, Elias Chinyemba has also reportedly dragged Magosi before the Department of Labour over unpaid salaries and unfair dismissal. The two are reportedly headed for the labour court on the 23^rd of March. While efforts to get a comment from the coach himself, Chinyemba who was recently sent packing by the new committee was however quoted in an online media platform, BotswanaFootball complaining that Magosi terminated his contract without a proper explanation.

“My contract is supposed to end next year November. I renewed it on November 2020 because they wanted to do club Licensing. I have never been paid since then. A few days after transfer window deadline I received a call from the club manager saying I should not report for training. They then served me with a termination letter,” Chinyemba reportedly revealed.

In a press statement Magosi has however refuted the claims noting that the two parties mutually agreed to part ways after they embarked on an extensive assessment of all contracts including that of Chinyemba. “Following Chinyemba’s contract assessment the club sought intervention of the BFA on compliance matters. We noted, on counsel by the BFA that Mr Chinyemba couldn’t meet the strict BFA compliance requirements which made it practically impossible to continue with the contract in the new season ahead. We noted this new development and acted swiftly, where a resolution was taken to release Mr Chinyemba from the club,” said Sikwane.

Confident of victory against Chinyemba, Sikwane told The Patriot Sport that they will announce a new head coach in mid March. He explained that they have been forced to relook into the applications after their preferred candidate could not meet the BFA compliance requirements. He could, however, not be drawn into revealing the name of the said preferred candidate. This publication at the time of going to print could only dig that the said candidate is a foreign coach but could not confirm if it was or not the Zambian gaffer, Mike ‘Dubula’ Sithole who according to unconfirmed reports was the one earmarked for the post. Sithole could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile Sikwane says all is not lost as there are still various capable coaches around who can be appointed to  replace Chinyemba.