Chippa fail to pay GU P1.2million

Mqondisi Dube | Friday December 14, 2018 12:40

The two players have not been paid their signing-on fees, reported to be in the region of a combined R500, 000.  The club has reportedly been beset by financial problems, and had even suggested that it could not keep the Botswana duo.

“They have not paid both the transfer and signing on fees,” GU’s Nicholas Zakhem told Mmegi Sport this week. He said there were suggestions from Chippa that GU take back the players, but Zakhem said this was declined.

GU are however, open to a temporary switch, with the players still looking to establish themselves in the South African league.

“They said since there is a new coach (at Chippa), maybe their situation will change. They want to see how things go,” Zakhem said. He said the intention is to meet Chippa owner, Siviwe Mpengesi over the payment of the transfer and signing-on fees. The players are however receiving their monthly salaries.

The two players moved to South Africa in June, but they have not enjoyed a stellar start to their careers in Port Elizabeth (PE). No immediate comment was available from the Chippa management at press time. The two players’ agent at the time, Olebile Sikwane said the contract agreement was that they would be paid signing on fees in November.

Sikwane stepped down as the two players’ representative in September. “I am not sure what happened thereafter, with the transfer fee that Chippa United must pay to Gaborone United, I know both Zackem and Chippa met this week here in Cape Town. The excuse in payment delay of the transfer fee on their side was that PSL owes them money,” Sikwane said.

The two players had signed three-year contracts respectively with the PE-based side. Kgamanyane is said to be likely to return to GU in January. Their move was largely influenced by GU’s poor financial situation back then. Zakhem said the situation had since stabilised at the Gaborone side, and the team has begun to climb up the BTC Premiership ladder. GU recently roped in their former coach, Philimon Makhwengwe to steady the ship, and after a rocky start, the team has made visible progress.  The team is 10th on the log with 15points from 13 games, after losing three points due to a FIFA fine imposed for failure to pay former Ghanaian player, Appiah Bismarck. Zakhem said Makhwengwe’s mandate is to guide GU to a top eight finish at the end of the season.