FIFA bans Township Rollers over unpaid former Tuks player claim

Botswana Premier League club Township Rollers have been banned by FIFA from registering new players after failing to pay former University of Pretoria player Thabiso Mokenkoane following a contractual dispute.

The sanction applies at both national and international level and will remain in force until the outstanding amount owed to Mokenkoane is settled. FIFA rules also limit the ban to a maximum of three entire and consecutive registration periods.

Mokenkoane, who previously played for Tuks in South Africa, had his contract with Township Rollers terminated last season. He challenged the decision and sought assistance from the Footballers Union of South Africa (FUSA).

Taelo Motloung, the union’s secretary-general, said FUSA first attempted to resolve the issue directly with the Botswana club before involving FIFA.

“Thabiso Mokenkoane had his contract terminated by Township Rollers last season, and he challenged the decision. He came to FUSA for assistance, and we were keen to help.

“We wrote a letter of demand to the club requesting them to pay what was due to the player, but we received no co-operation. We ended up taking the matter to FIFA, and FIFA ruled in favour of the player.

“The club hasn’t yet paid and now FIFA has ruled that they be banned from signing and registering new players with their league,” said Motloung.

FIFA documents seen by the Siya crew confirm that the registration restriction follows an earlier decision made in Mokenkoane’s favour. The documents state that the ban will continue until the financial obligation is met, subject to the three-window limit.

FIFA has also instructed the Botswana Football Association to enforce the national registration ban against Township Rollers immediately, if that has not already happened.

The decision could affect the club’s recruitment plans, preventing them from signing and registering players while the debt remains unpaid. The restriction will either end once the amount due to Mokenkoane has been paid or when the maximum period of three consecutive registration windows has elapsed.

Mokenkoane’s case also underlines the role played by FUSA in supporting players involved in contractual disputes, including cases involving clubs based outside South Africa.

Township Rollers are one of Botswana’s Premier League sides, while Mokenkoane previously continued his career in South Africa with University of Pretoria, commonly known as Tuks. His disagreement with the club was taken to FIFA after efforts to secure payment through correspondence with Rollers failed.