25 Mar 2024

Jwaneng Galaxy spokesperson, Tankiso Morake has dismissed social media reports that there was sour relations between the club and its sponsor, Debswana Jwaneng mine.

Morake has told BOPA that such social media reports were baseless and only meant to tarnish the team and its sponsor’s image and working relations.

The reports alleged that the sponsor was not happy with the way the club was running its financial and administrative affairs to the point that it was even mooting dumping Galaxy FC for Debswana second division log leaders, Jwaneng Young Stars. The reports further indicated that Young Stars would soon change its name to Debswana Young Stars.

“I can assure you that there is no truth to such reports. Debswana Jwaneng Mine are still very much satisfied with the way we run our affairs and the company has informed us so. Such rumours stem from jealousy and are only meant to destabilise our team and make our players uncertain of their future at the club,” he said.

Morake said that they would soon sit the players down and reassure them that all was well. He pointed out that the club’s affairs, both administrative and financial, had been audited annually ever since the team was formed.

“Part of the requirements to participate in the CAF competitions as we have been doing, is that a team should have been audited in key areas such as finance and administration, and if we had failed that we could not have participated in CAF competitions.

Debswana Jwaneng Mine is also a serious company that demands full accountability on how its funds are used, so they could have long parted ways with us if we had not been doing audits like the reports imply,” he said.

Morake said Jwaneng Galaxy FC and Jwaneng Young Stars were two different entities, such that there was no problem with Debswana Jwaneng Mine sponsoring them both.

“Initially, Young Stars started as our development team, but with time they detached from us to be an independent team, and Debswana Jwaneng Mine has the freedom to assist them if they so wish.

Remember the mine has interests in corporate social responsibility projects in its areas of influence, including sport development,” he said.

He said that despite efforts to destabilise the team, Galaxy FC was still focused on its plans of winning the Orange FA Cup for the first time in its history, as well as the league and qualify to play in the CAF competitions next season.

On rumours that he planned to dump the team when his term ends, Morake said those reports were also without merit.

“We have our elective AGM in June, and every bona fide member of the club has the right to stand for this position so if I lose I will gladly leave and support my successor. I have also served in this position for a long time and might just decide not to contest. That would not mean that I have any problem with the club,” he said. ENDS