Winning bonuses causes player unrest at Downs'

MBABANE – "Even a mansion has a toilet inside," once said Orlando Pirates’ Boss, Dr. Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza when his team was bedeviled by internal problems years ago.

The same holds true for table topping Manzini Sundowns, who inspite of being the model of professionalism for many teams in the elite league, found themselves facing a player’s unrest over unpaid winning bonuses.

A source close to the matter said the players were demanding their bonuses after winning the fifth game against Mhlambanyatsi Rovers on Saturday at Somhlolo Stadium. Sundowns are perched at the summit of the log with 16 points after seven games.

The source said not all the players are threatening to boycott the team’s activities but few players.

"The players are demanding their winning bonuses after they won their game against Mhlambanyatsi Rovers on Saturday. The MC is handling the matter," said the source.

One of the players, speaking on condition of anonymity in fear of victimisation, said they only want management to keep its promise.

"They made the promise that they will give us the E300 winning bonus but now we have won five games and we want them to pay us the winning bonuses. Some of us did raise this concern before Saturday’s game against Rovers," the player said.

Sundowns’ PRO, Muzi Matsenjwa said it was not true the players were on strike.

He said the team has individual contracts and as a team they respect all the players.

"We are aware people will come up with negative stories due to our position in the log. This is not true and the entire players are at training. If players had a problem they could have communicated this to the Management Committee (MC) and it would be sorted out soon," he said.

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