Mascom Top 8 in limbo

Kgatleng  giants  Mochudi  Centre  Chiefs  have this week  lodged a protest  against bitter  rivals, Township Rollers  over  Ofentse Nato, who they say was used as a defaulter  during their  Mascom Top  8 semi-final game last  week.

The case is expected to be heard before the Botswana Premier League (BPL) Disciplinary Committee DC) tomorrow (Thursday). Following a 3-1  drubbing  at  the  hands  of Rollers  in  the lucrative 2015/16 Mascom Top  8 first  leg  semi-final  at  the Francistown  Sports Complex, Magosi moved quickly  to lodge a complaint with the BPL accusing  their  rivals  of using a defaulter.

Nato  was  recently   signed  by  Rollers  from India’s Atletico de Kolkata during  the  last  transfer  window. In an  interview  this  week, Magosi  spokesperson  Clifford  Mogomotsi  confirmed that  they  have  made  an  official  appeal  with  the BPL over  Nato’s  status.

“The rules (BFA Play rules and regulations) are very clear,” Mogomosti said. According to  regulation 6.4, any team  that  fields a defaulter  during a knockout competition or play  off, shall  be  deemed  to  have  lost  the  game in question.

The regulations  go  on  to  state  that a protest  or  information  about  the  use  of  the  defaulter  should be brought to the attention  of  the Disciplinary Committee within 30  days  of  the said  game. The  regulation  further  states that  the  team  that fields a defaulter  shall  be liable  to  fines  between P1000 and  P2000.

Contacted for comment this week, the BPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bennet Mamelodi confirmed the appeal. “Chiefs  are  saying  that  I did  not register Nato properly but  that  is all  I  can  say  because  the  case  is  before  the BPL Disciplinary  Committee (DC).”

For  his  part, Mascom Top 8 Local Organising Committee (LOC)  chairperson  Bickie   Mbege  said  they  have  not  received  any  protest  from Chiefs, adding  that  there was tension  from  their (Chiefs) part  after  the Friday game.

This  week, the Rollers  spokesperson  Phempherethe  Pheto  said they were aware  of the  protest but  they  have  not received  any  official  correspondence  regarding  the  matter.

Meanwhile  another  beMOBILE premiership  team  Gilport Lions  has  also  lodged  a protest  against Nato  who  played against  them  in a recent league  encounter.