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Botswana: Nico Forced to Play Ball
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The Voice (Francistown)
22 April 2008
Posted to the web 22 April 2008
Monnakgotla Mojaki
Selibe Phikwe-based Nico United have expressed their anger and dissatisfaction at the Premier Leagues' decision to ignore their appeal against re-scheduling their cancelled first round home game against Gaborone United.
Nico are unhappy that the league had not kept them informed over investigations into why the game was postponed in the first place.
"We, therefore, humbly request your office to provide us with the latest developments on the above mentioned game so that we can make informed decisions on the next steps to take," reads their letter to the league written early last month.
On Tuesday after receiving a communiqué that they were to play their abandoned first round game, Nico lodged a protest.
"Nico United management is of the view that since the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the first round game between Gaborone United and Nico were unclear and controversial, the premier league should not have re-fixtured this game as if nothing had happened.
The club stated: "We are convinced that negotiations should have been carried out to determine the genuineness of the grounds advanced by Gaborone United to have failed to honour a fixture. Throughout the investigation stages, it would be ideal that Nico United as an affected party was abreast of all developments."
Nico were still awaiting a response from league secretary, Setete Phuthego, when they heard that the re-scheduled game would go ahead.
Setete has denied ever telling Nico that he was to talk to them over developments in the case. He told Voice Sport that the Premier League committee only told Nico of the postponement.
"When Gaborone United wrote to PLC we didn't grant them the postponement until they came back with valid reasons as to why they should have the game called off. It emerged that they had pressing issues and couldn't raise a team to play that weekend, so they were answered positively," Phuthego said.
Nico had resolved not to play ball against Gaborone United come Saturday, and are now faced with the leagues ultimatum.
"Nico United will appeal to the BFA on the matter. Failure to get support from the BFA and (the) Premier League, Nico United will have no other option but to seek legal advice," Majombolo mouthpiece, Etlhomilwe Raditshego, said.
"We hope logic will prevail amongst the Premier League committee members to avoid a situation that might put the integrity of the league into disrepute," he added.
League officials may yet take further action against Nico as their letter of complaint was copied to the press which, according to Phuthego, is not how league business is conducted.
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Nico had also written to the BFA Chief Executive Officer asking him to intervene in the matter to avoid a situation that could put the BFA's image into disrepute
United, however, may just have appealed to the wrong office according to sources within the PLC because such matters should be taken to the disciplinary committee.
The club may also find themselves on the wrong side of the law if they don't honour their weekend fixtures. A source in the league advised Nico to play the game, but under protest.
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