28 Sep 2016

Former Gaborone United investor, Nicholas Zakhem has found a new home at Gilport Lions as a partner and backer says the club’s executive chairman, Kelesitse Gilika.

Kelisitse confirmed in an interview that Zakhem was now part of their family and it had taken him some time to sign with Zakhem.

“As you know, we have four important pillars that include; development of boy child, partnership with Cancer Association of Botswana, football development in general, as well as to make our team very sustainable and run by a company.

He said his team was a ‘guinea pig’, and if they failed they would have failed Botswana football because they were the only team that had moved a step further as a company. 

Gilika says Zhakem was now a shareholder and that he was bringing a lot of financial muscle in addition to Slim Holdings as their main sponsor.

He said they had been struggling even after sponsorship last year, because the requirement of football was demanding and draining financially.

Furthermore, he said it was going to be also difficult because CAF club licensing requirements needed a lot of funding, the funds that the Gilika family does not have.

“Last year we had a sponsorship from Slim Holding for P2 m per season, we have already spent P3 m because we had to pay our outstanding debts especially players’ salaries,” he said.

Other than financial muscle, Gilika said his partner would also add value in the growth of the team, adding that their intention was to build facilities and as a construction guru, his advice would come in handy as to how to approach the construction side.

Talking about his company, he said Gilport Enterprises (PTY) LTD was a wholly Motswana owned investment company properly registered with the Registrar of companies.

He said he had been involved in football as a player and has held senior administrative positions in numerous professional Clubs. 

He has always harboured an ambition to direct his own football club and succeed in it. ENDS