Baroka players say club short-paid them

Baroka is the latest local club embroiled in the embarrassing nonpayment of salaries saga — sources allege players and staff were paid only half of their December earnings.

The sources include two players who spoke on condition of anonymity. They said on Monday that the club paid only 50% of December salaries, though the club’s management denies this, saying it had paid the December salary in two tranches.

“It’s very tough because our kids have to return to school now and we don’t have money because we only got 50% of our salaries in December. The club promised to settle the remaining 50% on January 5 but they haven’t done so yet,” said the first player, who asked not to be named.

The second player also laid bare his financial distress. “My budget is messed up now because I had to dig into my savings to pay for my car and the rent. We were told that on January 5 we will get our money but the club hasn’t paid yet.”

Baroka team manager Richard Mashabane insisted everyone has been paid. “We’ve paid all the players and everyone working at the club. I really don’t know where this comes from. We paid the first 50% on December 20 and the other on December 30,” Mashabane said.

Asked why Baroka paid salaries in two instalments, Mashabane said it didn’t want the players to spend the money recklessly in the festive season, insisting Baroka is not in a financial crisis.

“Remember most of our players are Under-23, so we thought we can’t give them all the money during the festive season ... we were trying to help them ...” Mashabane said.

50% of Baroka players’ December pay was made to them in the month, but players say the balance was not paid over to them. Club management, however, denies this