POPA, Shah face- off over funds
FOOTBALL
A simmering dispute between Township Rollers Football Club and its former president and financier, Jagdish Shah, over Stanbic Bank sponsorship money has been gaining traction.
This publication has obtained letters from Township Rollers to Shah, revealing the club's serious financial need and Shah's apparent nonchalant attitude towards the matter.
Stanbic Bank Botswana had apparently agreed to credit the club's account with P1 500,000.00 every January, to be used until December. In response to Shah's departure, the club wrote a letter requesting that he return the remaining sponsorship funds, as the original agreement stipulated that the money was meant to cover the team's expenses through December.
In the letter dated 13 October 2023, the club wrote a letter of demand to Shah stating: “We are of the view that you understand that the sponsorship when quantified monthly is P125, 000.00 PER MONTH AND YOU HAVE THUS RESIGNED AS AT May 2023. This means the money you could have used for five months is P625, 000.00 and the remaining balance of P875, 000.00 should have been given to Township Rollers upon your resignation.
We therefore demand you pay the money back to the team as a matter of urgency,” the letter reads.
They went on to say: “We cannot continue to market Stanbic Bank Botswana for free while you have taken the money and we demand you do the rightful thing and pay the club back so that we can see through our contract with Stanbic Bank Botswana.'
According to an inside source, the current financial situation at Township Rollers is allegedly taking a turn for the worst, with the team not only lacking the funds they are entitled to but also allegedly unable to sell their merchandise due to alleged external interference with the club's partnership with UMBRO. The source indicated that the arrival of new team apparel is uncertain, with Umbro remaining silent on the delay. The situation appears to be causing significant frustration for the team and its fans.
The conflict has reportedly been on-going for some time now, with both parties seemingly at odds with each other.
This sponsorship was meant to cover the club's expenses until December, but the club is now said to be in a financial blues.
Attempts to reach Shah have been futile while the Club's Public Relations Officer has declined to comment and after 24hours referred enquiries to the Club Chairman, who was yet to respond by press time.