CHIEFS, DOWNS IN PLAYER DISPUTE
KAIZER Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung is fuming amid the controversy over who rightfully brought trialist Ismael Olivier Toure to the country: Chiefs or Mamelodi Sundowns?
The Ivorian centre back was on trial at Chiefs this month, but failed to impress and was booked on a flight home, only for stories to emerge that the little-known 19-year-old had surfaced at the African champions.
“I think it was unprofessional of the player and whoever took him from the airport. It shows that we are still not matured as people in this game,” lamented Motaung.
“But it is everyone’s right. He is not our player and belongs to a team in Ivory Coast. We have made it clear to the team that we have released the player back to them. If they haven’t [tried] to get the player back, it is within their rights.
“I can’t say anything about that but for us, fortunately we had time with the player and he was not what we were looking for.
“We are looking for a natural left[-sided] central defender and he is one of the players we were looking at but we are not desperate in that position at the moment,” he added.
Toure was not available for comment.
But Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane added a new twist to the developments, suggesting Chiefs tried to poach the player.
Mosimane was quoted as saying Toure came to the country on the invitation of the Brazilians.
Dows spokesman Thulani Thuswa said the club was not going to comment on the matter.
Mosimane was quoted as saying the player was expected at Sundowns on January 18, but “disappeared” and ended up at Chiefs.
Motaung couldn’t be reached to comment on Mosimane’s claims.
The controversy surrounding Toure was sparked by a statement on the Chiefs website last week.
“Ismael Olivier Toure‚ a trialist at Kaizer Chiefs, never boarded the plane to return to Ivory Coast. He was released this week and transported to the airport where was checked in at OR Tambo International‚” Chiefs wrote on their January 20 post.
“The player arrived in the country on our invitation and therefore it is our responsibility to ensure his safe return. We have notified all the relevant authorities to help establish Toure’s whereabouts.”
Meanwhile, Sundowns have not put a fixed date on a return to action for their two Africa Cup of Nations stars Khama Billiat and Denis Onyango.
Forward Billiat was in Gabon with Zimbabwe and goalkeeper Onyango played for Uganda‚ with both teams knocked out of the continental finals in the first round.
The duo did not travel with the Sundowns squad for their camp in Tanzania this week but will link up with their teammates when they return to SA at the weekend. –