Soccer Laduma Fair Play – Sikhakhane addresses allegations

As always, and in the spirit of Fair Play, Soccer Laduma got in touch with ‘Koloba’, as he is affectionately known, to get his version of events, as he explained what happened and why the phone number he was using at the time is no longer working. The former Amakhosi development player also explained that he was fully aware of the money Noxaka paid to him but explained the complications.

“I know Billy. You know what happened? They stole my phone in December and I tried to do a sim swap, but I decided to get another number. Billy called me two years ago after taking my number from Soccer Laduma. He told me that he wanted to bring his boys to my academy. At that time, my academy was up and running. It was before Covis, because after Covid I stopped everything. I told Billy how I operate. I told him that he can bring the boys, but he would have to pay every month because it’s a paying academy. The boys go to school in the morning and then they attend training in the afternoon. Over the weekend, they play games or friendly games. Sometimes we played AmaZulu or Golden Arrows just to give the boys exposure.

“So, I spoke to Billy and he said he has two boys and he said one of them is going to university. I told him that was not a problem. The challenge with Billy was that, since Covid, I told him that I do not think I would run the academy anymore. But I told him that I can invite his boys to my camp during the school holidays for five days and then assess them and see if I can help them. Billy paid for these boys. He paid R3 000 and R1 500 for another boy. He paid and I don’t want to lie. So, I told him that we should wait for my camp, which was after Covid. I called him and asked if the boys were still coming for the camp and he said, ‘Yes, but the parents are changing their minds.’ But then I said to him, ‘Once you make the payment, we use the money for arrangements.’ You don’t just keep the money in the account. We book accommodation. You see now? I am organizing a camp in December. Do you know how much they want accommodation? They want R180 000 for 150 kids. Now, I prefer to work with the municipality because when people pay, they end up demanding and thinking we are ‘eating’ their money.

“You must remember, even when you call the scouts to come watch the players while they are in the camp, they need an appearance fee. Do you know that you give the scouts an appearance fee? So, parents don’t know these things. They think they will pay R1 500 and then you will fly in Chiefs. But back to the story of Billy. I could see that he wanted his money back and I told him we had used it for the camp. We paid for accommodation and we organised transport. I told him that we would refund him, but Billy was busy putting pressure. I told him that I am not running away. He even sent me emails. I’ve communicated with Billy, but for the past six months, we have not communicated, I won’t lie. That’s why I am trying to move away from these things of development that want money because it causes a lot of problems. There was a parent who said I would take a player to Chiefs. I took the boy to Chiefs. He was there for five days. But the parents said, ‘You said you are taking him to Chiefs to sign.’ I said, ‘No, how can I do that?’ Chiefs is a club and it’s not mine. I asked them to give the young boy an opportunity, but it does not mean he will sign. Those are the things that happen. I don’t have a problem with paying him the money back.”