Cracks emerge within Gunners committee
Chairman of Extension Gunners, Rapula Okaile and some members of the club committee are facing accusations that they are ruling with an iron fist in their attempts to help the Peleng side rediscover its glory days. Formerly with Gaborone United, Rapula Okaile was elected to lead Mapantsola last year and was earmarked by those close to the team as a 'transformation agent' who could bring fortunes for the side.
For some time now, some of the executive members of the team have stepped down and there are strong allegations that Okaile’s rule is not what was envisaged or agreed when he took over.
Reports suggest he is ‘ignoring the constitution with impunity’ and disregards consultations with relevant stakeholders in the decision making processes.
The club, according to its constitution, the secretary general in consultation with the chairperson, shall send notices to the general membership no less than thirty (30) days before the date of the annual general meeting, something which has not happened this year.
Article 16.1 of the constitution states that: the annual general meeting shall be held in the month of July every year to consider the following; the executive committee report by the chairperson, financial report by the treasurer, election of the executive committee members (where relevant), and the appointment of the ad-hoc committee to run the elections during the next two years.
Ahead of Okaile’s appointment, some executive members felt that, Gunners needs someone with the understanding that football has evolved, who would draft policies which could inspire a complete transformation of the club. “The team is run without adherence to the constitution, seemingly there is no AGM this year, we are wondering how we will get updates on pertinent matters of the clubs and other future plans,” a close informant to the developments pointed.
Contacted for a response, the club’s secretary general, Benson Mere rebuffed suggestion that their committee is operating the club with disregard to the constitution and further stated that they are on course to host their AGM.
“It has been announced today (Monday) and an invitation has been extended to members notifying them that we’ll hold our AGM on the 13th of August in Lobatse next. We had other issues which were pending which delayed our preparations for the AGM. We had to meet with branch members first before we could convene at the AGM; we have done that already in Mahalapye, and this coming weekend we’ll be in Mogoditshane,” Mere shared.
When contacted, the Secretary VGeneral also added: 'We are doing all we can to make the club great again.'
Gunners were recently warned by the football association to clear their P60 000 debt to former player Kudzanai Machedzani, which they have since settled.
Former Secretary General, Oabile Mabapa, one of the longest serving members in the club having been part of the team since 2014, reportedly resigned from his position a few months back without a clear explanation of why he stepped down.
This publication has also learnt that, communications manager and public relations officer, Oarabile Kgosiesele also left his role but like Mabapa, there was never a clear explanation of his resignation.
Mapantsola are no strangers to controversial leaders after they elected former BFA vice President Tariq Babitseng to lead the club back in 2018. Leading up to the Botswana Football Association elective congress in 2020, history of political squabbles between the local football governing mother body and Babitseng resurfaced which saw the latter relinquishing his duties, instigated by some members of the club.
A new committee led by George Kerekang took charge of the team ahead of July 24 2021 general assembly at which Okaile was handed the steering wheel of the club. The club has however recently announced new partners, amongst them a funeral policy cover from Penrich Insurance Brokers, a deal which will see the team benefit 30 percent from the sponsorship deal, but no figures were disclosed. Furthermore, the committee has launched a project ‘Making Gunners great again’ in a bid to lift the struggling Peleng giants.