Botswana champions make allegations of food poisoning & theft after CAF Champions League thrashing by Simba

FOOTBALL Botswana champions make allegations of food poisoning & theft after CAF Champions League thrashing by Simba

Joel Omotto 15:51 - 05.03.2024

Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy have claimed they suffered food poisoning and lost items before their CAF Champions League clash with Tanzanian giants Simba which they lost 6-0.

Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy have accused Tanzanian giants Simba SC of underhand tactics, including allegations of food poisoning, before their CAF Champions League clash last weekend.

Galaxy suffered a 6-0 thrashing in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, as Simba sealed their place in the quarter-final, but their coach Morena Ramoreboli has made a number of allegations, suggesting that their hosts deliberately frustrated his team’s preparations before the match.

“We arrived in Tanzania in the early hours of Wednesday morning. On the menu, there was a variety of food and they didn’t make a mistake of not including various fruits,” Ramoreboli told South African publication Soccer Laduma.

“On Thursday, we had those fruits and different foods that was also available on the menu that day, there were no complaints. I did not eat on Friday, I only drunk juice but when I woke up the following day, it was as though I was drunk.”

The South African coach suspects his team and its entourage might have been set up by their hosts.

“About five players could not wake up on matchday as the doctor tried everything to assist. Meaning on Friday, we don’t know what but something was done to the food. Not only to the players but also for the members of the technical staff,” he further claimed.

“We don’t really know what happened. We tried to speak to the management of the hotel before about suspicion of food poisoning only to realise that something had already been done to the food. Unfortunately, we don’t really know what they did and who did that to the food.”

Ramoreboli then explained how his team was initially refused access to the pitch on matchday while alleging that they were attacked and some items stolen from them.

“While the guys were doing their inspection, on the other corner just before they entered the tunnel, that is when the security started attacking us, even stealing a phone from our goalkeeper coach,” said Ramoreboli.

“At some point, there was gas coming out of the dressing room. Whatever happened there, if CAF does not do anything, at some point matches will not be played because teams will not have players.” Ramoreboli said his team has lodged a complaint to CAF over the incidents.

Galaxy’s Champions League campaign has been marked with controversies with Ramoreboli storming from a press conference in Morocco last November after claims of using black magic were leveled against his team following a shocking 1-0 win over Wydad Casablanca at the group stage.