11 Nov 2014

The national football team players were on Monday night (November 10) chased out of the stadium at the aborted Mascom Top 8 game featuring Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Nico United in Molepolole.

The reason for action against the Zebras players was that they were putting on regalia of their sponsor, Orange which is a competitor to Mascom.

The Zebras are on camp preparing for AFCON qualifying game against Tunisia on November 14. However, Mascom public relations and communications manager, Barbra Gotlop said her company welcomed everyone at their events, regardless of the attire.

She said they appreciated the support they were given by the public at their events. "Honestly, we do not have any problem if people come to our events wearing clothes branded with Orange or be Mobile,” she said.

On the contrary, Botswana Football Association president,. Tebogo Sebego said when they signed contracts with companies, they also promoted the spirit of exclusiveness.

Therefore, he said it was imperative for BFA not to compromise the exclusiveness of other companies. “To be honest with you, it was wrong for the Zebras to attend the game, wearing something branded with Orange, we do not want to compromise their exclusivity,” he said.

Sebego said had the BFA allowed Zebras players to attend the game, there was a possibility that Mascom was going to cite them for breach of contact. “And again, when welfare managers make decisions, they should be careful as to which event the players are attending to avoid such confusion,” he said.

Narrating the incident to BOPA, Zebras captain, Joel Mogorosi said they were embarrassed and reduced to nothing.

He said what was surprising was that the same person who was chasing them away, was also wearing be Mobile jacket. “It is true we were chased and we had to stand in the rain trying to negotiate entry, but nobody listened to us and we were left with no option but to get back to the bus, shame and embarrassment written all over our faces,” he said.

Mogorosi said, as national team players, they were expected to wear their sponsor’s clothes. “But what shocked us was that some supporters were wearing Zebras jackets and raincoats branded with Orange, so it was only us, players who were showed the door,” he said. ENDS