Four years of hell

Lunga Adam: Welcome back! So, how do you look back at the time you spent under the employ of the South African Football Players Union?

Calvin Motloung: I’d say it was a good but difficult journey. Difficult in the sense that one would sacrifice even my family (time), just nje to help players so they could be able to know how important contracts are and that they have rights. They must know their rights, you know. In football, if you have the tale nt, no one will do you a favour to say ngiyakuzama. Also, you must respect umsebenzi (your job). Once you get given a contract, you need to honour that congo tract. You cannot to the ground while not in a good condition. I’d like to believe that we managed to help most of the players. Some of them listened when we spoke to them. So, to answer your question, it was a good experience and I’ve learned a lot at SAFPU. I enjoyed working with the players. I’m a footballer myself, the language is the same. I managed to go to school while I was working. I think I contributed while I was still playing and after playing, in advising the players and contributing to the footballers in the country. But in every work environment, there are ups and downs. There were times the organisation had no money, we had to sacrifice, we had to go and help the guys. Sometimes there was no accommodation and you’d be far from the province. I’d be involved in accidents with my personal car. Mhhh, a whole lot of risk, you know, but I understood what we wanted to achieve, what the priority was, the main thing. We had not even signed binding agreements, clubs didn’t want us to recruit. So, I understood all those things. It was a good journey, I enjoyed. I’ve done my part in the orwhere ganisation up until it ended. But ayiphelanga kahle (it didn’t end well), Mr Lunga. I was not happy with the way it ended.

LA: Explain. CM:

You know, I can tell you now, before even the congress (which took place in November last year), I wanted to resign from the organisation because of the manner in which things are now being done in the organisation. It was not proper! It was not okay! I wanted to resign, but things didn’t happen the way I planned them. Then I waited, we went to congress, it happened the way it happened at congress and then I had to take… Hmmm, I wanted to resign because I didn’t want to be associated with the things that are being done to the players, oppressing the players. So, I’m not bitter now, I’m not angry, I wanted to leave the organisation anyway, but I never knew that kuzophela (it would end) the way kuphele ngakhona (it ended). I took the organisation to court. Not that I was angry or I’m bitter that ngiphumile (I’m out) – no, no. The things that I’m raising, I raised them while I was still inside the organisation, they were never attended to. I wrote to mother body FIFPRO while I was still inside the organisation, before the congress, about the things that are happening to the players, that are affecting the players, you know. But then I took the organisation to court on the 1st of December. The matter sat at Labour Court, and it was postponed to the 7th of December, where the case was thrown out. But what was thrown out, they didn’t want to listen because I applied for urgency. That was just after the congress. So, that urgency was dismissed because I took long to go to court. So, it’s not that the case was thrown out, no. The arguments, the case, we never discussed that. That’s where I believe I have a strong case, and I’m pursuing that, Mr Lunga. The thing is that in December, the courts were going for recess, so they had to close. I’m told that they opened today (16 January), so yes, I am continuing with my case against SAFPU.

LA: Alright… CM:

YI just want justice to be done! I just want justice to be done! I don’t want to go back to SAFPU. It’s my time now to pursue my passion, to pursue my career in coaching. Justice needs to be done for the players, and players themselves need to wake up and smell the coffee. That Union is their Union. They gotta be able to go there and ask questions. The Union is not for an individual who thinks he’s a politician, he’s untouchable. No! That Union is for the players. I just want justice to be done and (to) expose the liars. Players are being oppressed, people don’t know. I’m just disappointed also about the players who attended the congress. That I must say, Mr Lunga. I’m disappointed in the manner in which they did not represent the players who were not called to attend the congress, especially the senior players. You can call those who attended, they know what happened there. Those players were not there for the sake of the organisation and to discuss the issues of the organisation. They did not represent the players who did not attend the congress.

LA: Your disappointment with these senior players appears to be deep-seated…

CM:

It was so disappointing, at the start of the congress, to see the senior players raising their hands and saying they wanted the programme to be changed, meaning the voting must happen on the first day. According to the programme, voting processes were to happen the next day. They said, “No, we are not going to wait for tomorrow for the voting.

We have other commitments to attend to back at home in Johannesburg. All that we are here for is to vote.” And they agreed to that. You could see this thing was rehearsed or something because the players were told what to do when they come to the congress. They said they wanted to catch the flight back home on the same day! So, they are not interested in the organisation, that’s what it says. Remember the congress is not about the voting only. That’s where there are reports to be given by the leadership. Give the financial reports, give the presidential report, give the secretarial report. Let the members engage on that report. How have you done for the term that you have been running the organisation? What are the finances? What is happening there? So, when players themselves are saying they are only interested in voting, it raises alarm, it raises questions.

these players hatched to

esterday a hero, today a loser. That could wellbe the best way to sum up Calvin Motloung’s stint at the South African FootballPlay ers Union, whose offices he first entered as a jaded ex-play er some 14 y ears ago, eager to take on the mantle in service of footballers whose rights were often desecrated by clubs. As detailed in last week’s edition, this took a lot of sacrifice on the part of the former Jomo Cosmos man, and his ascend up the organisation’s ranks over the y ears was indeed well-deserved. However, his account of recent events, as shared with Soccer Laduma’s Lunga Adam in this interview, leaves one with the feeling that, in the end, there may have been a bullet with his name on it leading up to SAFPU’s elective congress of November 2022. A sad way to exit a place that afforded “Salter” the platform to bring out his compassionate side every waking hour of his life. Good reader, sit back, drink it in and draw y our own conclusions!

“The Union is not for an individual who thinks he’s a politician.”

LA: So, you think were part of a plan oust you? CM: Well, you know, things, the way they happened, you could see that there was a mission that needed to be accomplished. They are not interested in the organisation, they are only interested in satisfying the needs of the individuals. Players are being misled, Mr Lunga.

LA: But what do the players stand to gain from being ‘used’ by SAFPU? CM: No, Salter must just go out! We must just deal with Salter there and then. Because they did say that in the congress, the secretary general and the president. That the congress must deal with Salter. You know why? Because I’m closer to the former players. They said I’m closer to the former players and former players are useless. Imagine the leadership saying that to the current players and the players agreeing to that. Are they not going to be form er players t hemselves? Are they not going to retire? Are they not growing? So, will they be happy when they call them ‘useless’? Players are sitting there just listening. That’s why I’m saying I’m very much disappointed with the players, not that Salter is out, has been voted out – no! Hence I said it’s about time these players take charge of the Union. Players must wake up, they are being misled. It’s the Players Union, they are the principals. President, it’s not his organisation, secretary is not the organisation. They are taking advantage that players don’t know anything about the offices, duties, what’s happening in the offices. They are misleading them. It’s very wrong. Hence I’m saying I’m quite disappointed with the players, and most of the senior players were there. Not that I wanted them to vote for Salter, no! Ask questions. Why would you want to change the voting to the first day of the congress? And no one says, “No, let’s have it tomorrow”, or argues that or debates that. No! If you had other commitments to attend to back home, then why were you at the congress? In what way did you help the organisation by taking a flight in, getting there, voting and leaving? What are you saying about the resources of the organisation? So, amajita maan kumele abe (players have to be) involved more in this organisation. Like I said, the congress is not only about the elections. There’s a lot that needs to be discussed so that when people vote, they can make an informed decision ukuthi Salter did not do his job, we heard his report, therefore, he must go.

LA: If what you’re saying is anything to go by, a lot is going wrong at the organisation.

CM: As we speak now, attorneys are being about R2,450 76.84c. Not now, but before. Do the players know about that? No, they don’t know because they didn’t want to know as to what’s happening about their monies, in the office. They were made not to ask questions. Cases are taking long at the organisation. When players take their cases to the organisation, they’re taking very long. Why? Because the lawyers are fed up, they want their money. There are so many players who have withdrawn their cases from SAFPU. While I was still there inside the organisation, I raised these things with the leadership. I’ve got proof, I can send you the proof ukuthi I raised these things. Even these monies that are being owed to the lawyers, I raised those things. Now players are calling, “Salter, what’s happening with our cases?” I wrote to FIFPRO, that, “FIFPRO, there’s a lot that is going wrong in the organisation. Please intervene.” I raised these things while I was still inside. I said, “Comrades, let’s correct this. What is happening?” You talk about SARS… not complying. No IRP5s. I was begging and asking, “Where are the IRP5s?” So now, just because Salter is raising so many questions, he must be dealt with going into congress. Mr Lunga, imagine, we are at the congress and then there is a voting process, and then you stand up as the leader of the organisation and handpick Lunga and Salter to come forward and run the voting processes. Had they ever done that before? They had never done that before. Did they have knowledge of running the processes of voting? No. Were they trained? No? Who are those people? Two former players. You booked for them to come all the way there. It’s Silence Malefane and Gerald Modabi, running the processes of voting. It’s a joke. When they make mistakes there, the president of the organisation is the one correcting them… no, do this, don’t do that, do this. Are you taking the players seriously? Such a big organisation. I raised my hand at the congress and wanted to speak, they refused! I never spoke in that congress. They said, “No, you’ll only be able to speak after the voting process, not now. The players have made a decision that we are voting.” Imagine, as a DSG of the organisation. Then when I talk after the voting, what difference is it going to make? It won’t reverse anything that they have agreed to.

LA: Talking of Lovers Mohlala, he was quoted on KickOff.com saying you “died with a gun in your hand”.

CM: Ha, ha, ha, I’m really not sure what he meant by that. Maybe you must call him! The very same players that were called to attend congress, they would call me and tell me, “Mina ngibiziwe ukuthi ngiye kwi (I’ve been called to go to) congress, ngiyofika ngenze kanje (this is what I’m going to do).” So, I went there knowing what was going to happen anyway. That’s why I’m telling you that in one of the radio stations Lovers said they told him that Salter was busy defending the organisation, they were going to remove him there. He said, “Monyai told me that they are going to Cape Town to remove Salter.” I knew what was happening.

LA: A structure like that of SAFPU isn’t immune to politicking. Isn’t that taking away from what the organisation is really about though?

CM:

Mr Lunga, we are footballers, we must leave politics to politicians. This is an entertainment industry. But politics are there everywhere. By virtue of it being a Union, it means there are politics there. So, don’t bring pol@MLuansgeab1e1Q0ina

itics because wena you are rubbing shoulders with the… eish, how am I gonna put this? Don’t take politics to the field of play. Don’t take politics to the players and uma uqeda (after that) you think wena you are untouchable, you will just do as you wish because players don’t know. All that they know is to play on the field and that ‘I have a case, and as for how my case is going, I’m depending on those people whom I elected to take care of my matters, especially legally when I’m having challenges’, you know. Hence I’m saying players must wake up, players must smell the coffee, players must take responsibility to ask and want to know what’s happening in the organisation. It’s not a crime, it won’t be a sin going there and asking, “Bafethu, nithola malini (Guys, how much are you getting)? Do you have a sponsor? Do you have a grant? I mean, we are paying subscriptions. How is our money being spent? Can we see statements?” It’s not wrong! They must take over the organisation in the form of asking questions when there are platforms, such as the congress, such as the NEC, such as the meetings that we always have with the players. If players don’t do that, of course people will take advantage.

LA: By ‘people’, you mean the leadership of the organisation?

CM:

The leadership of the organisation.

LA: How was your relationship with the leadership, especially leading up to congress?

CM: You know, since I got into leadership in 2017, the past four years have been four years of hell. You ask this, you are not being answered. There are a lot of things, there’s information that they hide from you because remember… eish, Mr Lunga. But I could not go and speak about these things outside because nami I’m also part of leadership. I need to speak about them while I’m inside so that we correct that. I must protect the organisation, I’m in the leadership. Whatever happens there, I’m also included, I’m part of that, you see. That’s why I’m saying I’m not saying this because I’m now outside. I’m not rubbishing the organisation, I’m just telling the truth as to what happened. I’ve raised these things before and those things I’m not telling you about, it’s because they are sub-judice. I don’t want to point fingers and say ini, ini, but the past four years, it was a tough one, it was a tough one to see the way things were happening.