Gale Ngakane
5 November 2009
Things have fallen apart at Premier League side TAFIC with supporters demanding sweeping changes as players boycott training over unpaid dues.
Last Tuesday, players stood idle in the middle of the training pitch at Leseding (just behind Tati Town police station) saying that they want to be paid first, while officials consulted on the touchline.
Meanwhile, supporters were debating the state of affairs at the ground. "It is not unusual for a player to be seen going next door to ask for food or to hear that his house has been locked by landlords because his rent has not been paid.
"They buy players a bag of rice, maize meal and some soups. As for the relish, players would be left to fend for themselves. I think the committee is doing a disservice to the players who are the very reason we have a team called TAFIC," said a female supporter.
Another supporter wanted to know the whereabouts of the P160,000 TAFIC got from the league sponsors and P38,000 from television broadcasting rights. "We want to know where this money went. For the past two years, there has not been a financial audit by the central committee. There is certainly no accountability on their part," said the angry man.
Another supporter said the current officials requested to be given two months to wind up their business and hand over the club to private investors, but so far they have stayed put. "It is more than two months now and this committee is still in place.
"They are even taking decisions for the team even though their time has long elapsed," he said. One of the decisions, which was questioned by the supporters is the firing of the coach, Willard Khumalo. The supporters cried that a committee that was illegitimately in office took the decision. Khumalo told Mmegi Sport yesterday that he is a very disappointed man and he fears for the future of the young boys in the team.
"I have been on sick leave and those people know about this and they have the audacity to hand me a letter saying I have been relieved of my duties.
"They were saying that I did not perform to their expectations and yet I had been in charge of the team in only two games, and I won one and drew the other. When I tried to speak to the chairman, he left me in his office saying I should speak to a lawyer," said Khumalo. He added that TAFIC players are indisciplined and if nothing is done to correct the situation, then the club will relegate.
"If they continue like this, the team is going to be relegated. There is certainly no discipline in that team. Things may have been bad before, but this time it is worse. What is painful is that the chairman is doing things alone. It is really bad," said Khumalo who added that he is owed P48,000 in unpaid dues. TAFIC public relations officer, Jones Mosweu, poured cold water on Khumalo's claims that he is owed P48,000. He said the club owes the coach a lesser amount. He denied that their players boycotted training saying they only held a meeting with officials to discuss the poor performance.
"They (both officials and players) were exploring ideas as to what should be done to help the team start winning games," said Mosweu.
He denied that supporters questioned the whereabouts of funds paid to the club.Mosweu said the question was asked by ignorant people as everybody at TAFIC knows what happened to the money. "Some of these things are best ignored because the speakers do not know what they are talking about," he said.
He added that after firing Khumalo, they are hunting for a new coach. Meanwhile, assistant coach, Ricardo Marape, who was in charge when TAFIC walloped Motlakase 2-0 a fortnight ago and last weekend when Machimenyenga were beaten 3-0 by Boteti Young Fighters has taken charge temporarily. "We are still in the process of recruiting a coach and we shall make an announcement in due course," said Mosweu.
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