20 Dec 2015

Mochudi Centre Chiefs are optimistic on honouring the 20^th Edition of CAF Champions league despite CAF club licensing requirements. 

According to CAF, football clubs without the CAF club license will not take part in any of the CAF competitions without a CAF club license.

However, CAF have fitted Mochudi Centre Chiefs with their Mozambique counterparts Ferroviário de Maputo f.c. The catch about the fixture is, Centre Chiefs is yet to acquire the CAF club license.

CAF have sternly placed an order to say, failure for any team to comply with the requirements will be disqualified from playing such games. Centre Chiefs have until the deadline of August 1 2016 to do so.

Despite the timeframe, Mochudi Centre Chiefs general manager Zaahid Jalal said his side is optimistic that they will honour the fixture and make sure they license accordingly before the deadline.

Jalal said they still have an opportune to meet the requirements, since the requirement will only take effect for all clubs next season.

 “At this point of time we are going to apply for the extraordinary license which will wave some of the requirements of the licensing system,” he said.

He added saying this shall be possible if they work together with Botswana Premier league (BPL) and Botswana Football Association (BFA).

He also said they have been aware of the licensing system, since it have been spoken about citing the Bosele declaration and the revised edition of 2012.

Explaining this have helped them cover some of the requirements as required by the CAF club licensing. 

He noted they have put in place the club secretariat, finances are being done above board and being submitted to the BPL.

However, he said there is still a lot of ground to cover also citing the challenges they faced into successfully executing the requirements. “We are still lacking on the youth program which will be a matter of urgency for us,” he said.

He also went to say they are hoping to develop their own mini stadium in Tlokweng, where most of their facilities are based.

“Having our own stadium will be giving us that element of home ground, and it still falls under the requirements of the CAF club license which calls for clubs to have their own stadiums,” said Jalal.

He said they also consider to avail themselves to either the National Stadium or University of Botswana Stadium for contracts to use their their stadiums.

In a note of the preparations on playing in the champions league, Jalal a former assistant coach before the arrival of Keitumetse Paul, said though they running a thin squad they are ready for the games.

He said the club have been rocked by a number of injuries, which have narrowed their options in the defence department.

He further said though some players will return from injury before the games, the plan is to beef up the squad and to sign more players when transfer window opens.

 

Meanwhile, Gaborone United (GU) with virtue that they are Mascom Top 8 champions will play against Jeshi la Kujenga Uchumi football club of Zanzibar (JKU) in the CAF Confederation Cup. GU is no exception to the license requirements as they have to comply and acquire the CAF club license. Ends