Player exodus over coach

If Bloemfontein Celtic’s decision to allow midfielder Lyle Lakay, above, to start training with Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday was influenced by the apparent dissent with coach Ernst Middendorp, then the club might really be in some serious trouble.

The 22-year-old will join the Brazilians during the January transfer window if he is successful during his trial at the Pretoriabased side, and Musa Nyatama’s loan deal at would be made permanent.

“I can confirm that Lyle Lakay will be going to Sundowns for an assessment with the intention of moving there in January should all parties be happy,” Celtic CEO Khumbulani Konco told the club’s website.

Media reports suggest that Lakay, together with Ruzaigh Gamildien and Johannes Motlhaping, are some of the players who have indicated dissatisfaction with Middendorp’s methods since he arrived at the club after the departure of Clinton Larsen.

Celtic have only managed to take 10 points from 10 games, averaging a point per match.

The team have not won a game in their last five league fi xtures, suffering a 4-0 thumping from Sundowns and four draws in the process.

Celtic recently deemed Letsie Koapeng, Jabulani Ngcubeni and Itumeleng Duiker surplus to requirements at the club, but the trio’s departure has been linked to growing frustration with the coach.

“Bloemfontein Celtic FC have released three players from their contracts with immediate effect with the trio not fitting into the coaching plan of Ernst Middendorp and the rest of the technical team,” the club’s statement added.

The team’s next fi xture will only be in three weeks’ time and this should give Middendorp and the rest of the technical staff enough time to resuscitate the player’s “fading” belief.