By Teboho Molapo
MASERU — Barely a day into the new Vodacom premier league season, turmoil has engulfed Matlama once more.
On Friday the team’s patron and patrons’ convenor, Justice Tšeliso Monapathi, made a call for an urgent meeting of Matlama’s chief patrons and executive committee to deal with the new crisis.
The memo, titled “Maemo a hlobaetsang a sehlopha, litulo le tsamiaso” (Critical conditions of the club, positions and management) is addressed to the secretary general and all patrons and chief patrons of Matlama Sports Union Maseru Lesotho.
“There seems to be a need for the Chief patrons, the patrons and the executive committee of Matlama to meet urgently,” Justice Monapathi said in the memo in which he warns the club might soon implode if nothing is done to resolve the problems.
In the three-page document Justice Monapathi accuses the Matlama executive committee of failing to produce financial reports, administrative reports and to call general meetings.
“It seems there is confusion on the side of the executive committee and a lack of full control (of the club). This situation is largely caused by committee members that do not respect
one another among other issues,” he said.
The current Matlama executive was elected last February.
Ikhetheleng Matabane was elected club president during elections held at the Police Training College.
Matabane had been president of a six-month interim board after the previous leadership was forced out in August 2009.
According to Matlama’s constitution each executive serves for two sporting seasons and this is due to be the current committee’s last at the helm. But this hasn’t stopped severe disillusionment in the Tse Putsoa camp.
Matlama is run by an executive committee with chief patrons and patrons assuming the roles of godfathers of the club.
Matlama won the league and cup double in the 2009/10 season, becoming the first team to do so in the premier league era.
However this was swiftly followed by problems which saw Ntebele Taole being fired as coach because of apparent interference and disagreements with the committee.
Justice Monapathi listed 11 issues that he said point to chaos within the committee of Matlama.
“The committee works for money for personal enrichment and not for the club. That spurs corruption,” Justice Monapathi said.
He also slammed “negative outside interference and a lack of respect for the club”.
“It seems there is a section of the club’s supporters whose intention is to create instability within the administration of the club as their main mission. This is the most unfortunate issue,” Justice Monapathi said.
“The latest point of distress is the following; that the team coach and management committee seem unhappy when it comes to the respect of the members of the committee even though they are new (in the job) and young in age. This is also disheartening.”
He added, “I ask you to intervene with your opinion and words of wisdom because if the administration (of the club) worsens than it already is, the following will happen:
l The loss of the Matlama’s status in the game, losses and increase of problems, possibly leading to the death of the club.
l Disappointment, humiliation and embarrassment to Maseru and the whole sporting community in Lesotho.
l Worse problems than previously seen that derive from the lack of finances and others.
l The loss of love in the eyes of the sport loving fraternity.
l The degrading and demeaning of the club and our organisation.
Matlama were involved in a messy row over gate takings during the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular last October which resulted in their quarter final second leg home tie against Mokhotlong LMPS being cancelled at halftime.
Tse Putsoa eventually finished runners-up.
In February Matlama sought to get a sizable portion of the gate receipts made from the preliminary Caf Champions League home win over South African champions SuperSport United.