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Chiefs prioritize debt reduction

CLEARING DEBT...Mochudi Centre Chiefs are looking forward to paying all their debtors
 
CLEARING DEBT...Mochudi Centre Chiefs are looking forward to paying all their debtors

Mochudi Centre Chiefs have been reeling in the mud of financial struggles for the past few years following the departures of financiers, Ernest Molome and the Jamali family. This week, the current club chairman Victor Kobe told Sun Sport that, the situation will soon be a story of the past.

Magosi boasts a record of being the invisible in 2007/2008, after they assembled an impressive squad which featured amongst others, Mpho Mabogo, Oteng ‘Limkokwing’ Moalosi, Pontsho ‘Piro’ Moloi, but the club has since experienced turbulent times.

The club’s two warring sides, who battled for the rightful ownership of the side could not ceasefire for the longest time following their battle which started in 2013. The Kgatleng giant’s fight to stay amongst the top clubs in the league came at a cost, attracting high profile players, high wage bills, and when the coffers went dry, they had incurred debts that they have been struggling to clear in the past few years.

Magosi were relegated to First Division in the 2018/2019 season and they are currently still battling it out in the dusty fields of the first division.

As they look for a return to the local elite league, the current leadership at the club, led by Victor Kobe, have prioritized clearing debts and building the club from a financial clean slate.

The Kgatleng giants earlier this week released a statement to notify all those owed by the club from April 2020 to January 2023 to forward their claims to the club.

“Notice is hereby given that all former players, coaches support staff and service providers contracted to Mochudi Center Chiefs Sporting Club from April 2020 to January 2023, are hereby requested to file all their claims of whatever nature with the undersigned within 30 days after the publication thereof,” part of the statement reads.

“We are looking to find out the exact amount of our debt, this will help us as we continue to hold talks with potential sponsors. Within a period of two years we intend to have cleared our debts. We have already written to Footballers Union of Botswana and they have assured us that they will share the list before the end of the week,” Chiefs chairman Victor Kobe highlighted.

He said current projections show that their debt is in the region of around P1 million, and he added that it is key for transparency purposes in leading their project for a return to the Premier League.

Chiefs announced Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare as their new gaffer last week and Kobe, did not shy away from expressing their expectations from the highly rated coach.

Nare has been part of the national team set up in recent months, with plenty of Premier League experience having coached at Extension Gunners, Orapa United and Morupule Wanderers, there is high expectations and optimism amongst Chiefs’ family that a return to the elite league is inevitable this time around.

“There is absolutely no reason for us to fail to gain promotion, Nare came here and he knows our expectations, he understands the pressure and the demands to lead this great movement. We are bold about it, we are returning to the Premier League and not through play-offs,” Kobe said.

He said the club is looking to emulate Township Rollers’ success back in 2004, when they got promoted and went on to win the league and FA Cup.

“We also want to win the FA cup this season, which is why we are looking to provide him with necessary tools to compete at the highest level, we are currently busy recruiting players to beef up our squad,” he added.

The team has been enjoying a cordial relationship with DC Tours and Kobe indicated that the company has committed to take care of the players’ welfare which will enable them to keep the players' focus on the task at hand. There has also been a mention of local insurance company, Metropolitan, who are rumored to be keen to become partners of the once a mighty Centre Chiefs.