‘Volunteer’ Dirang AWOL at Gunners
Larona Makhaiza | Saturday December 10, 2022 06:00
Gunners vice chairperson, Bonno Ngwaamotsoko indicated the dazzling midfielder had penned a one-year deal at the start of the season.
But months have passed since the signing and Moloi is yet to make his first appearance for the Peleng side. “Yes, Dirang is our player.
He is contracted to Gunners for one season,” Ngwaamotsoko said.
“He hasn’t started training with the team but we are yet to meet with him and pave the way forward as there are some issues that we need to iron out before he can resume training with us,” he added.
Asked out what the issues are, Ngwaamotsoko said he was not in a position to discuss the matter further. “As for now, we can’t disclose any details before we sit down with our player,” he said.
Although Ngwaamotsoko was not forthcoming with reasons for the 'deadlock' with the player, sources point to the termination of a business deal Moloi had with the club. 'Moloi, through his company, Corporate Athlete, has been supplying the club with merchandise. The club recently terminated the deal and that could have irked Dirang. He feels betrayed by the club.
The new committee is the one that terminated the contract,' the source said. But Ngwaamotsoko disputed the claims. “That’s not true. The issue of Corporate Athlete, and him not training are two separate issues.
Gunners haven’t terminated any contract,” he said. Ngwaamotsoko referred the matter on Corporate Athlete to club chairperson, Bruno Masisi who deals mostly with contracts. Contacted for comment, Moloi said he is volunteering his services as a player at Gunners. “At Gunners I am only volunteering and I only offer my services when I am available.
The reason why I have not been able to train with the club is because I have not been available all this time. Because I am only volunteering, I avail myself only when I am free. I am not paid for that matter at the club,” Moloi said.
He further said he was unaware that Corporate Athlete's contract had been terminated. Instead, he said as far as he was concerned, the company is still contracted to the club.
“CA is still contracted to Extension Gunners according to my knowledge and the club has not said anything to me about the contract being terminated,” Moloi said. Efforts to contact Masisi to shed light on Moloi's company situation were futile at press time as he had not responded to Mmegi Sport inquiries.