A heated dispute has erupted between Botswana football rivals Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs, with Rollers lodging a formal complaint over an alleged drone surveillance incident. The complaint, addressed to the acting CEO of the Botswana Football League (BFL), claims that Centre Chiefs flew an unauthorised drone over Rollers' closed training session at the Lekidi Football Centre on Thursday morning. The drone reportedly appeared between 08h00 and 09h00, hovering over the Rollers camp as they rehearsed tactical plans for Saturday's encounter.
According to Rollers, the drone was intercepted by the team's technical staff and security personnel before it could complete its reconnaissance. The club contends that the incident compromised its preparations and raises questions about sporting integrity, facility rules, and aviation regulations. Rollers has asked the BFL to investigate, bar Centre Chiefs from using any footage captured, and impose sanctions for unsportsmanlike conduct. The incident has added fuel to the long-simmering rivalry between the two teams.
The dispute did not remain confined to paperwork, with a confrontation occurring at the training ground. Video footage shows Rollers security officer Motlatsi Montsi confronting Centre Chiefs officials and security staff over the drone's presence. The exchange is visibly tense, with Montsi seen jabbing a finger at a Centre Chiefs security official. This incident has heightened tensions surrounding a match that was already highly anticipated.
Rollers' public relations officer, Kaizer Sekaba, confirmed that the club escalated the matter to both the Botswana Football Association (BFA) and the BFL. Sekaba expressed his dismay, stating that the incident hurt him personally, given his experience with CAF and FIFA. He questioned why the drone was trained on Rollers, suggesting that Centre Chiefs had the resources to purchase drones but were not supposed to test them on Rollers.
The complaint cites Article 25 of the BFA Play Rules, which deals with conduct capable of bringing the game into disrepute. Rollers also invokes regulations governing the shared Lekidi facility and drone requirements set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB). The club argues that if footage of its closed session was captured, its tactical preparations may have been compromised.
Mochudi Centre Chiefs had not offered a public account of the incident by press time, neither confirming nor denying the allegations. The drama now shifts to the offices of the football authorities, with the BFL tasked with investigating the incident. The answers may arrive after Saturday's whistle, but the suspicion has already taken flight.
The incident has significant implications for the upcoming match between Rollers and Centre Chiefs. The BFL's investigation will aim to establish the facts, including who operated the drone, whether the flight was authorised, and whether any rules were broken. The outcome may have a substantial impact on the rivalry between the two teams and the broader football landscape in Botswana.
Key points
- Township Rollers lodges complaint against Mochudi Centre Chiefs over alleged drone surveillance
- Incident raises questions about sporting integrity, facility rules, and aviation regulations
- BFL to investigate incident, determine facts and potential sanctions
