03 Feb 2019

Ailing Sankoyo Bush Bucks club’s efforts to secure sponsorship have not borne fruit, but management is optimistic that their prayers would be answered. 

The team continues to survive through the support of Sankoyo Tshwaragano Management Trust, which recently invested over P75 000 to assist the club in signing new players.

Club chairperson, Obusitswe John confirmed in an interview that the trust assisted them with money to sign new players to beef up the squad and acknowledged that the trust has been the club’s financial pillar.

He said they managed to sign six players, two of whom are foreigners: Steward Matlala from South Africa and Melvin Moyo from Zimbabwe.

He said the other players are: Moleletse Diveve from Western Dynamite in Maun, Monyenga Chakova from Miscellaneous, Botlhe Rakaki from Gilport Lions and Tshephang Mohutsiwa from Northern Pirates, adding that they were in the process of signing a goalkeeper.

John revealed that their financial situation had not changed as they were still unable to secure experienced players, hence the team’s poor performance.

Ngurungu, as the team is affectionately called, is struggling in position 15 with 12 points, and some of the supporters have lost hope of the team breaking into the top eight bracket.

The chairperson noted that their efforts to secure sponsorship were ongoing, saying it was promising as some investors and companies showed interest but were worried about the team’s performance.

“Most companies are willing to assist clubs, but they are skeptical to assist teams which are performing badly and that is the case with us. Our boys’ performance is not satisfactory and we cannot find a sponsor easily,” he stressed.

John said their financial woes had contributed to poor performance as the players’ welfare was compromised because the club was unable to pay their wages.

But he stated that this season they were trying their best to ensure that players got their monthly payments on time. 

He also urged supporters to rally behind the team and assist it to survive relegation. 

The team’s coach, Tiiso Gadimang concurred that they could not expect results if they were not financially stable.

He said retaining experienced players was a challenge, noting that “there was no consistency in our club as every season we lose key players to well-established clubs and the technical committee always has a mammoth task to re-organise the team,” he added.

Gadimang said currently the club was comprised of youthful players, the majority from constituency teams, while some were from first division teams.

He is of the view that despite their financial challenges and supporters’ fear that the team was sinking, they would bounce back and remain in the premier league. Ends