Don’t overcommit, warns Sello as Gallants change hands

Maumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello is like a cat with nine lives - he continues to survive the whirlwind of businessmen who buy a PSL status only to fail in the end.

Sello burst into the local football scene in 2021 after buying the status of Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila who had just bought Bidvest Wits.

His joy in top-flight football was short-lived due to poor administration, resulting in Gallants being relegated to the second tier division after two seasons.

Sello’s bogus administration then included being unable to cater for the team’s needs on the continent during their CAF Confederation Cup's campaign

As such, this resulted in two club officials being detained in Libya due to the money Sello owed to a notorious businessman who had footed his hotel bill.

Before the season ended, the club and the players were allegedly on loggerheads over bonus rows after the team qualified for the Confederation Cup semi-final.

Sello stayed for one season in the national first division before resurfacing in the top-flight last season after buying the status of Moroka Swallows.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have retained their status in the top-flight, but the sale and purchase of status in the statuses during winter transfer window has continued willy-nilly.

As such, Gallants will have arch-rivals Siwelele FC in Bloemfontein next season after the son of sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, Calvin Le John, bought SuperSport United.

Sello, though, has advised what Le John and other new chairmen must do and avoid in order not to make the same mistake he did when he arrived in the PSL.

“The challenge at the top, as we know, is finance,” Sello said. “Finance can be run by an individual - auditors - so get the right people to advise you.

“Secondly, commit what you can. Don’t be overwhelmed and sit at the corner and satisfy conditions that’ll haunt you. Yes must be yes, and no must be no.

“Don’t look at what the club has been doing - look at what you can do, who’s advising you and the calibre of players you keep at the club.”

Sello added it's  hard to run a football club without a sponsor in the PSL, and that’s why some bosses end up forking up monies from their own pockets to run operations.

“This is a very difficult position to be in,” Sello admitted. “Our chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, used to say as a chairman you are always working hard.

“You throw your last cent into the club. When your son comes and asks for R5 you say you don’t have it, but when a player asks for R6 you give him immediately.

“So, that’s how it is. It is about passion and developing other people’s careers. But it’s not a child's play - it’s very difficult, especially financially.

“You have to prove that you can get the sponsors, and all those particular things. But at the end of the day, you go home with your subsidies to supplement the monthly grant.

“It’s not as easy as one may think. It’s nice to watch the game on TV, but to run things behind the scenes, you definitely don’t sleep.”

Now a bit wiser after paying his school fees for misadministration, Sello has revealed how he managed to slightly change things around last season.

“I think the mistake that we do as the leaders of the clubs is to overcommit according to the people you are sourcing,” Sello explained.

“Don’t overcommit according to the people you are outsourcing. Don’t go over your line of expenditures. Not everybody will laugh. Commit to what you can afford.

“Also, satisfy your people. You are as good as your employees. So, satisfy the people around you. There’ll be problems, but be ready to solve them.

“There’ll be some disputes, but be ready to go and answer before the disciplinary committee. And amicably sort everything out.”