An extra ten days to respond to P570, 000 claims
Football governing body FIFA has granted Mochudi Centre Chiefs an extra ten days to respond in a case in which two of the club’s former managers are demanding over half-a-million Pula in outstanding payments.
Magosi was initially given until next Thursday to respond but this week the deadline was extended to Friday 14 August.
In the latest missile of misery to hit the struggling Kgatleng outfit, Chiefs were reported to FIFA by former coach, Bongani Mafu.
The Zimbabwean, who led the side in 2016 and 2017, claims the club owe him P449, 500 in unpaid wages.
Mafu’s countryman, Philani Mabhena, has gone the same route, telling FIFA that Chiefs owe him P121, 100 for his short stint at the club (August 2018 – January 2019).
Speaking to Voice Sport on Wednesday, Chiefs President, Thapelo Tsheole stressed that the 14 August ‘D-day’ was not a deadline for payment but rather the date by which the club must respond to the allegations by.
He confirmed they are conducting internal investigations, which have so far revealed they owe Mafu P175, 000.
“We need to first establish if indeed he is owed that much then we submit a payment plan. Our members are very much willing to pay. We need to come up with a plan and have a formal way of members’ contributions. Management tried to negotiate with these two coaches but they refused and reported us to FIFA. Our biggest challenge when we assumed office was that there was no money to run the club and we spent a lot on creditors but the team is now stable,” explained Tsheole.
Turning his attention to football matters, Tsheole said when they were elected to lead the club last year, it was two days before the transfer window closed and thus there was no time to bring in the players they wanted.
Highlighting just how far the four-time Champions have fallen, Tsheole said that when he took over, the team did not have a kit, whistle, or even a ball to start the season.
“It was hustle. We started from scratch and had to take the team back to Mochudi from Gaborone!” he said, adding the club only managed to comply with the Registrar of Society last week.
It is hardly surprising then that Chiefs failed in their bid for an immediate return to the Premier League, eventually finishing fourth in the First Division South, eight points adrift of a play-off place (the league was ruled complete despite four rounds of fixtures still remaining).
Tsheole is confident Magosi will not fall short again next season, revealing that mass change is set to sweep through the club.
“We have released about 15 players now mostly because we were not satisfied by their performance and we are re-building the team. We will possibly get a sponsor and sign new players to prepare for the next season. My intention was to serve for a year, stabilise the club, find a sponsor, and map the way forward to sustain it. We have an Annual General Meeting on the 15th of August and I am not sure if I will stand for the elections but at the same time members want me to continue!” concluded Tsheole.
