14 Apr 2019

Extension Gunners have suspended their chairperson, Tariq Babitseng with immediate effect pending investigations on missing club finances.

The Lobatse giants stated that the current vice chairperson Tapela Boti would serve as acting chairperson while Babitseng remains suspended.

Gunners’ president, Alex Sekgotla explained in a press release last week that Babitseng was suspended in relation to the P30 000 missing from the club’s account and other allegations of financial irregularities.

Sekgotla said the P30 000 was advance money from Botswana Premier League. He said the Gunners board shall expeditiously cause forensic investigations by independent investigators into the missing funds and other instances of financial irregularities.

“We shall approach the Botswana Premier League and/or the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime to carry out their own investigations in what could amount to corruption and or other crimes.

We must hasten to add that at this stage no one has been found guilty, and so we shall respect at all times the presumption that one is innocent unless and until proven guilty,” said Sekgotla.

He said Gunners’ players recently expressed their concerns to the team management after going unpaid for the last five months. Sekgotla said failure to pay players could be as a result of financial irregularities or fraud at the club.

“It is therefore in the interest of the club in general and the welfare of the football players in particular that the route cause is properly established through independent investigations.

We would be failing in our duty if we did not act promptly to protect the interests of the hundreds of thousands of Extension Gunners supporters across the length and breadth of Botswana and its players,” said the Gunners president.

Babitseng took over as Gunners chairperson from Hennel Kaisara after the club’s committee elections in August last year. He promised that his committee would transform the fortunes of the club after years in the doldrums.

However, Gunners continued to be dodged by internal problems this season with players often boycotting training due to unhappiness over not being paid.

A few months ago, the team lost a number of experienced players including striker Kenanao Kgetholetsile and midfielder Ofentse Mmipi and the team is struggling to secure a berth in the top eight cup competition for next season. ENDS