02 Mar 2016

Botswana Premier League disciplinary committee (BPL DC) has dismissed Mochudi Centre Chiefs' protest against Township Rollers' use of Ofentse Nato in a Mascom Top 8 semi-final on February 19.

When passing the ruling yesterday (March 1), BPL DC chairperson, Busang Manewe, upheld Rollers' argument that Chiefs did not comply with article 5.1 of the Macom Top 8 play rules and regulations.

In their protest, Chiefs had arguied that Nato was not properly registered. However, Rollers raised a preliminary point that Chiefs did not comply with the Macom Top 8 play rules and regulation article 5.1.

The clause states that a protest shall be lodged before kick-off  and all protests shall be accompanied by a protest fee of P10 000. It  also says any team, which lodges a protest verbally and fails to make a formal follow up, shall be guilty of an offence attracting an automatic fine equivalent to the tournament protest fee.

Chiefs argued that they lodged the protest with the Mascom Top 8 local organising committee (LOC) chairperson, Bickie Mbenge.  However, Mbenge denied that he received such a protest.

Manewe said they had not been furnished with any reason why Mbenge would deny ever receiving a protest from Chiefs. He said it was vaguely suggested under cross examination that Mbenge supported Rollers but he denied the accusation saying he  supported Notwane Football Club.

“This in our view was just a fishing exercise by the protesting team, we note that the protesting team has participated in the elite league for a long time and its officials are well experienced in matters pertaining to the administration of football in Botswana”, he said

Manewe  further said it was a well-known fact that if a protest was to be lodged at any game, it had to be made to match officials of that day. He said the match officials in charge of the game were duty bound to produce a report after the game and file it with the premier league.

“We wonder why very experienced football  club administrator such as those who testified for the protesting team would fail to lodge a protest with match officials, but instead chose to lodge it with the chairman of the LOC,” he said.

The chairperson of the LOC, he said, was not in charge of the game and was not bound to record a report of their protest, adding it was true that the competition rules were silent as to whom the protest was made to.

He said, the same rules stated that where the competition rules and regulations were deficient, they had to look up to both FIFA and Botswana Football Association play rules and regulations.

“We are of the view that on balance of probabilities, no protest was made to Mbenge before kick-off, it is very difficult to believe the version by the protesting team witnesses in the light of the above facts”, Manewe said.

He advised those aggrieved by the BPL DC ruling to appeal within 10 days.

Immediately after the ruling, Centre Chiefs communications manager, Clifford Mogomotsi, said in an interview that they would appeal.  Mogomotsi saidclause 3.1 gave LOC the power to be in charge of the game.

“3.1 gives the LOC the powers including organising of the game including protest and everything, it is written there”, he said.

Meanwhile a case between Rollers and Gilport Lions will be heard before the same committee on Thursday, Gilport is protesting that Rollers used Ofentse Nato in their premier league game against them. Gilport described Nato as a defaulter, hence the protest. Ends