Posted in News on Jan 25, 2005.
This follows statements allegedly made by Moshoeu on a Sunday newspaper where he is quoted to have said, “the club has not addressed with players issues of incentives schemes and insurance against injuries and other accidents” when discussing his participation in the Champions League, particularly the game against AS Port Louis of Mauritius this coming Saturday.
The Naturena based club is shocked by what it called ‘Moshoeu’s “irresponsible” media utterances, which according to the club could constitute misconduct in as far as the club’s media policies are concerned.
Speaking from his office, club spokesperson Putco Mafani said what shocked the club’s authorities, is that “these issues are discussed regularly between team management and the players, through relevant structures. Shoes, is a member of the players’ committee by virtue of him being a senior player. Issues of insurance cover are standard in the players’ contracts regardless of which competition one plays. The same principle applied to the Mandela Cup and that was the agreement with the players and it still stands even now and players know this, so does Shoes as well. We have proof of meetings and correspondence with players where these issues were discussed and agreements reached, and Shoes is a signatory on the agreements documents with the club on behalf of players”, said Mafani.
He said everyone at the camp “was surprised on Sunday, why Moshoeu decided to drag the club to a media warfare on an issue which ideally would be an internal enquiry, and if he was not sure about anything he could have approached Bobby (Motaung) the Team Manager. This is simple media management protocol which protects players and in fact on most occasions Shoes has obtained permission and guidance and was never denied an opportunity to do an interview but strangely this time he overlooked protocol”.
Moshoeu was subsequently dropped from the squad to play Manning Rangers by the coaches on Sunday.
Mafani said it is cause for concern that not long ago, just after the Coca Cola Cup, Moshoeu did a story with another newspaper that he “got the boot on his birthday” because he was not in the starting line up of the squad that played Supersport Utd on his “special day”. Mafani said, “Let alone the fact that a birthday has got nothing to do with a selection of a player, because it would constitute a serious precedence; the club feels it is regrettable that a senior player like Shoes just neglects existing structures of communication and protocol in this fashion because without looking at the merits and demerits of the case in question now, there are systems and structures to be utilized by players”.
Mafani concluded by saying that contrary to other media speculation, there is no crisis in the champions’ camp, following luke-warm results which include a loss to Moroka Swallows and 2 draws with Dynamos and Manning Rangers in lacklustre performances, saying it is just a bad spell which they hope to turn around in their next game against Jomo Cosmos where they might probably welcome back other senior players like Patrick Mabedi and Thabo Mooki who were rested over the weekend.
Chiefs have a hectic week ahead of them. They are away to Cosmos for a tricky Castle Premiership fixture on Wednesday, 26 January 2005, in Rustenburg, at the Royal Bafokeng Sport Palace and will stay on to continue preparations for their all important Champions League clash with AS Sportive Port Louis 2000 of Mauritius on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 15h45 at the Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg.
Tickets for the Saturday game are already available at Computicket outlets for R20 adults and R10 children. Grand-stand tickets will cost an additional R10.
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For further information please contact Putco Mafani on 011 941 1465 or 082 991 0977.
