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‘PUPU’S SA DEAL ON THE ROCKS

18/07/2014 23:56:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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MBABANE – Just when youngster Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze seems to have made a breakthrough to South African football, albeit First Division, his move to Black Leopards hangs in the balance.

The player who returned to the country last weekend after passing trials with the First Division outfit, Lidoda Duvha as they are also known, was offered a three-year deal which he is yet to sign after consultation with his parents.

However, his team, Manzini Sundowns expect to cash in on the deal on grounds that ‘Pupu’ was still contracted to them until August 15, just less than 30 days left before the contract expires. Sundowns’ Chairman Mark Carmichael made it clear that South African teams must be ready to pay whenever they want to sign players in the country.

“We have not gotten any feedback on his progress either from his agent or Black Leopards but if it’s true he made the grade and was offered a deal, we will expect Black Leopards to approach us for his clearance as he’s still our player,” Carmichael said.

He said Swazi teams always faced a challenge as during this time of the year there were a lot of agents coming through yet their legitimacy remains questionable and that some people wanted free things. He said Sundowns have invested in ‘Pupu’, hence Black Leopards must approach them for talks.
Asked to value the player, Carmichael said it would be guess-work if he just pronounced a price as a lot of things come into play when evaluating a player. He said since they have not even received any official feedback from the concerned agent or Black Leopards, they would wait and hope someone will come through for talks.

Meanwhile, his agent Enerst Fakude, was spitting fire over Sundowns’ wanting compensation for a player whose contract is technically over. He said he has personally been in contact with Carmichael but the latter has insisted on compensation. He even forwarded a text message purpoted to have been sent by Carmichael acknowledging that the player was on trial, and seeking advice on the logistics to be followed after he had passed trials.

“Less than 30 days left in his Sundowns contract and they want compensation. FIFA rules are clear compensation only comes in when the player signed his first professional contract which was with Mbabane Swallows otherwise at Sundowns he’s contract is just as good as over,” he said.

He said Black Leopards have given the player until tomorrow to return for preseason training or the deal will be called off as to sign him another foreign player was sacrificed. Fakude said despite all that was happening, the player assured he would be back with Leopards tomorrow. No immediate comment could be obtained from the media shy player as his cellphone was unavailable when sought.