Kwem’s agent crosses swords with Chippa over contract
A tug-of-war has developed between centre-forward Augustine Kwem’s agent and Chippa United.
So much so that the Eastern Cape-based Absa Premiership club could lose the Nigerianborn player, who is one of the most influential members of the squad.
Kwem’s representative, Akorede Huthman of Gidi Sport in the UK, has recalled the player and instructed him not take part in any activities at Chippa, claiming he is a free agent.
Gidi Sport say Chippa have not followed the correct protocol in extending Kwem’s contract without the player’s knowledge.
However, the club’s COO, Lukhanyo Mzinzi, has dismissed the claims.
“Well, I can comfortably tell you that he does have an extended contract with us. He can go to the PSL and ask for the contract and he will get it,” Mzinzi said.
Huthman, who heads Gidi Sport, said Kwem had signed a one-year contract with the Chilli Boys which had lapsed on June 30 but that there was an option to renew or extend. But in doing so, the club would have to notify the player and PSL of their wishes in writing.
“They [Chippa] literally forgot to trigger the option and we have not been able to reach an agreement on the extension,” Huthamn said.
“So that automatically makes the player a free agent. According to us, Kwem is a free agent, and we have offers from clubs locally and abroad.
“I have stopped him from training with the club.”
“This will be a dispute that will go on because I am not going to accept the extension from them because if the player goes back there he will not be comfortable again after this whole thing.
“They might keep him on the bench for the rest of the season or try to do something ridiculous. I gave them [Chippa] an opportunity [to extend] and they did not take it and I will not give them that opportunity again, really.”
In response, Mzinzi said the agent was bluffing and that Kwem was their player and if he did not return to training when the coach called for it, he would be dealt with accordingly.
“When we signed the boy he was unknown,” he said. “He was coming from the amateur leagues and could not secure a professional contract with any club.
“Of course, we had our doubts at first but when we saw his capabilities we improved his package. We found a new luxurious accommodation for him.
“We improved everything about his contract and we extended it because we believed in him.”
Mzinzi said Kwem had joined his teammates for Covid-19 testing last week and he was expected to go back to training when it resumed.
“They are taking chances. He is our employee full-time.”
Asked if the club had followed the correct channels when extending Kwem’s contract, Mzinzi said: “When we signed this boy he didn’t even have a representative.
“The boy was struggling in SA.
“So if anyone tells us we didn’t follow processes and we were supposed to do this and that, they don’t know much about the player.”
Kwem joined the Chilli Boys from Bay ABC Motspe League outfit Sibanye FC in July 2019.