Botswana’s Township Rollers players boycott match

Financial problems are threatening the future of one of Botswana’s most successful elite football clubs.

The financial woes saw Township Rollers FC players boycotting a league match against Calendar FC scheduled for Friday. The failure to fulfil the fixture undermines the FNB Premiership title chase for the club affectionately called Popa.

TOWNSHIP ROLLERS PLAYERS BOYCOTT LEAGUE GAMe

Township Rollers FC informs its supporters, stakeholders and league authorities that they unable to honour a league fixture against Calendar Stars scheduled for this evening at Gaborone United (GU) Stadium #Botswanafootball pic.twitter.com/lc6k4hHO3W

— TheSportsGuy (Mbali Hlophe) (@mbalimokoko) September 25, 2025

Reports say the players boycotted the match in protest over unpaid salaries, signing on fee, utility bills and game bonuses.

What Township Rollers statement says

The club has since released a statement confirming the challenges which threaten their future.

“Township Rollers FC regrets to inform our dear supporters, stakeholders and league authorities that we have unfortunately been unable to honour our league fixture against Calendar Stars scheduled for this evening at Gaborone United (GU) Stadium, owing to a decision by players not to participate,” the statement reads.

“Effort was made to address the matter internally, but circumstances proved beyond control. We wholeheartedly apologise to league authorities, the association, sponsors and other football stakeholders for this unfortunate and unprecedented occurrence.”

Genesis of Popa’s financial problems

Popa are said to be under financial problems due to a failure by their South Africa-based management company CAB Management to fulfil their financial obligations. The company was due to take over the club’s operations by July 1 2025.

Rollers lead the log table with 14 points from six games, one game and less than second placed Mochudi Centre Chiefs.