‘BIRDS’ E70K COMPENSATION TO SA’S TS SPORTING

MBABANE – Even before he kicks the first ball in anger on his return to Mbabane Swallows, Felix Badenhorst has costs the club an arm and a leg.

After the Capital City giants paid him a sum of E100 000 as signing-on-fee and three months’ salary totalling E51 000 (he earns E17 000 per month) following his unveiling on June 10, the red and white glamour side has had to offer a E70 000 compensation fee to South Africa’s GladAfrica Championship side, TS Sporting. This follows our exclusive report on how the national team talisman had signed a valid two-year contract with the ‘Bantu Bemthetho’ as TS Sporting is affectionately known, immediately after being off-loaded by DStv premiership side, TS Galaxy. Badenhorst then went on to sign a two-year contract with his former club Mbabane Swallows and was unveiled on June 10. The contractual dilemma led to Swallows officials accompanied by the player (Badenhorst) travelling to Nelspruit to negotiate with TS Sporting chairman, Slungu Thobela in an attempt to revoke the two-year contract he had signed with the Zwelisha, Mbombela based outfit.

An informed source close to the deal told the Times Sports Desk that Thobela indicated he would want to be compensated in order to release the striker from his contract. “He made it clear that Badenhorst had signed a two-year contract with him and he was shocked when he was then unveiled by Swallows. When the player contacted him, he had said he would be joining one of the security forces teams but this was not the case hence the TS Sporting director was upset and wanted to be compensated,” the source said. The source further stated that Thobela had placed a E70 000 price as compensation fee and at the same time he was willing to take the player on board for him to see off his two-year contract. “At the same time he values Felix and he wouldn’t have minded to have him in his team but apparently the player wanted to play at home because of personal reasons. Swallows has made the offer of the E70 000 compensation and the matter is now resolved,” the source added.

Reached for comment, Badenhorst confirmed the contractual dilemma has been resolved. “Everything has been sorted out. I am ready to play for Swallows,” he said briefly. TS Sporting chairman Thobela when reached for comment last night, confirmed the matter would be resolved as negotiations are still on. “There is no compensation fee that has been paid so far but we are still negotiating and I think the issue will be resolved. Players need to be careful, asibasukeli,” Thobela said.

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