JOHANNESBURG - Bidvest Wits chief executive officer Jose Ferreira has refuted talk midfielder Jabulani Shongwe will leave the club for Orlando Pirates.
Shongwe handed in a transfer request at the end of last season. He has since been demoted from the senior side and is now not training with Wits' first team.
Ferreira told Independent Media on Tuesday that Pirates were yet to contact him regarding Shongwe.
“Shongwe is currently our player. There are clubs interested in his services. Some offers have been declined by the player himself and some by the club," Ferreira explained, adding that they have not had any contact with with Buccaneers.
"But Pirates is not one of those teams. If they wanted the player they would have told me by now. I’ve engaged Pirates a lot but they haven’t said anything about Shongwe.”
Shongwe has been with Bafana Bafana in the last two weeks during their two-legged qualifying tie for the Caf African Championships (CHAN).
Now at Wits for three seasons, the skilful winger spent most of last season warming the bench. Wits coach Gavin Hunt preferred the highly-experienced Daine Klate on the left wing.
Ferreira though expressed confidence that the player will get his wishes to leave Braamfontein for another club.
"Shongwe will move in this transfer window if the right offer does come. At moment, I am not at liberty to mention the names of the teams whose offers we have declined,” Ferriera explained.
Shongwe joined Wits from Mamelodi Sundowns in 2014. His manager Jazzman Mahlakgane referred enquiries about the player's situation to Wits.
“Please contact Wits. The player belongs to Wits. I can’t say anything at this stage. Wits have to agree with whichever team, and then I can come in to discuss personal terms. At moment they haven’t contacted me. So please call Jose,’’ Mahlakgane said.
Wits are the Absa Premiership defending champions having also won the MTN8 which they are in line to defend after progressing to the semifinal courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory over Golden Arrows in a match that saw coaches of both sides sent off. They meet Cape Town City in the first leg at the Cape Town Stadium at the weekend.
And Ferreira said they are intent on having an even better season than the last one: ‘’We want to compete on all fronts. That’s our target this season. We are at (that) level... We have assembled a good team and if the right player does become available before the transfer window closes we will add another new face to our team.’’