Johannesbrug - Kaizer Chiefs and out-of-favour defender Siboniso Gaxa will face off at the PSL offices in Parktown in an attempt to resolve what has been a protracted contractual dispute involving the two parties.
Chiefs announced on October 21 last year in a Twitter post that Gaxa had signed a new two-year deal to remain at the club before going back on their word two months ago when they declared the right-back a free agent.
At 9am on Friday morning, Gaxa’s legal representatives are expected to prove, during a Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) hearing, that the contract he signed is legitimate, while Chiefs will try to argue against that.
Amakhosi have since replaced Gaxa with Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Ramahlwe Mphahlele, who is six years younger and joined coach Steve Komphela’s side on a three-year deal last month.
According to Glyn Binkin, who is Gaxa’s agent, his client has been training on his own to keep fit while Chiefs were in a pre-season camp in Mpumalanga.
Binkin maintains that it was Bobby Motaung – the Amakhosi football manager – who instructed Gaxa to go sign a new contract at the time.
Motaung, however, has insisted that “there is no contract, and I am not aware of an announcement that the player signed a new contract because I never made the announcement. If it was made on social media, I know nothing about that. I wasn’t there”.Gaxa was part of a list of at least 20 players who were considered surplus to requirements by Chiefs at the end of a disappointing campaign in which the club surrendered the Premier League title to Sundowns by finishing in fifth place.
Komphela has since asked his employers for reinforcements and they obliged by recruiting eight new faces as well as replacing assistant coach Doctor Khumalo with recently retired Ghanaian footballer John Paintsil.
Meanwhile, Amakhosi’s bitter-rivals, Orlando Pirates, yesterday confirmed they had put six players on the transfer list and that goalkeeper Felipe Ovono, who spent the previous season as second or even third choice, will be heading to Saudi Arabia for an assessment ahead of a potential move.
The players that have been put up for sale include midfielder Yassar Mugerwa, wingers Sifiso Myeni and Roger Majafa as well as strikers Lehlohonolo Majoro and Letsie Koapeng.
The Buccaneers said they were giving an update on player movements at the club to end speculation over who would form the core of new coach Muhsin Ertugral’s squad for the upcoming season.
In a statement, the club also added that chairman Irvin Khoza is due to hold talks today with a few more players to discuss their futures.“However, before making such announcements, Orlando Pirates understands that as employers of these players, the club has had to follow proper procedures as listed under the Labour Relations Act,” the statement read further.
That disclaimer comes after Chiefs were reported to have infringed on the rights of their players by apparently confirming contract terminations without consulting the affected parties.
@superjourno
The Star