More money, more problems for Rollers

Sunday Standard

More money, more problems for Rollers

One step forward, two steps back. That is the story of one of Botswana’s most followed football teams Township Rollers as it seeks to build from the ruins of administrations gone by.

Beleaguered by debilitating debts, ‘Popa Popa’ or ‘the Blue Train,’ as the team is affectionately called, seemed to be building steam in the past couple of weeks. In the past few weeks alone, Rollers unveiled sponsorships and partnerships mounting to a couple of millions of Botswana pulas. These put the team in a position to pay some pressing debts and start rebuilding.

One of these debts, which haunted Rollers the most, was the P1.2 million in unpaid dues owed to former coach Abdelaziz Karkache. The debt, which is directly linked to the team’s recent past investor Tendai Sebata and the then team executive committee, led to a FIFA imposed transfer ban for Rollers. 

With the team having lost a number of players, mostly first team starters, Rollers had to pay-up to allow for the team to register players. As expected, Rollers duly paid the debt and were preparing to start registering players.

But as the lyrics from one Notorious B.I.G’s ‘mo money, mo problems’ song go, ‘the more money we come across, the more problems we see.’ Now, two other debts and two new FIFA bans have put paid to Rollers plans. 

The latest two transfer bans took effect from the 14^th July 2026 and 28^th August 2026 respectively. They emanate from the unpaid monies owed to two former players, South African forward Thabiso Mokenkoane and Congolese midfielder Ntambwe Wafauna Djo. 

And if things continue as they are, more problems may be looming. Another former South African player, Thabo Rakhale, has also reportedly issued Rollers with a letter of demand over unpaid dues. In the demand letter, which came through the Football Union of South Africa, he has given the team ten days to resolve the matter or he also escalates his grievances to FIFA.

With the season already started and transfer bans now in place, Rollers will once again be compelled to pay up. This means dipping more into the already fast depleting pocket for Rollers. Failure to do such will mean the team will play the league season without needed players to compete. Speaking to this publication in the previous interview, team chairman Thapelo ‘Fish’ Pabalinga surmised that ‘these monies could have gone a long way in assisting Rollers prepare for the league.’ 

“Unfortunately, whereas other teams are using their monies to build or strengthen to be more competitive, we find ourselves having to pay investor inherited debts. But it is what it is, we have to focus and get the team as ready as it can be for the coming season.”

In a press statement addressing the latest bans, Pabalinga said the team had already ‘engaged the legal representatives’ of the concerned players and is actively ‘working towards settling the outstanding debts.’ 

Of greater importance, the Rollers chairman says while they cannot wish away their past issues, they must however ‘learn from them and guard against such ever happening again in the future.’ 

With so many challenges to overcome, Pabalinga and committee will, more than ever before, have to rely on Rollers’ supporters’ backing. Whether it is showing gratitude to sponsors and partners, attending games, buying merchandise or helping in any way possible, supporters will have to be on board if the team is to rise again.

The post More money, more problems for Rollers first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Sunday Standard Reporter