Celtic stick to guns over Gordinho

Bloemfontein Celtic say they have no intention of releasing defender Lorenzo Gordinho back to Kaizer Chiefs and will insist he sees out the remaining six months of his loan spell in the Free State.

Gordinho has made it clear that he wants to return to Naturena and has made an official request for Celtic to terminate his 12-month loan spell halfway through.

But Siwelele chief executive Khumbulani Konco said that had been rejected outright and, as far as he and new coach Steve Komphela were concerned‚ the defender was part of the first team’s plans until the end of December, when his loan expires.

Gordinho’s agent, Mike Makaab, said dialogue with Celtic was ongoing and claims there was a gentleman’s agreement with the club that if the player wanted out and Chiefs wanted him back‚ he could go.

But Konco said contracts are there to be honoured and Celtic were firm in their resolve that he must see his out.

“He has made a request to return to Chiefs but we have said a firm ‘no’ and that is not something that will change‚” Konco said yesterday.

“If he has signed a deal for a 12-month loan with Celtic then he must stick to that contract and see it through.

“You cannot come halfway through and say you have changed your mind.

“He is part of our first team under Steve until December and that is the end of it.”

Gordinho’s loan move to Celtic in January was a surprise to many‚ even if he had, ironically, fallen out of favour with coach Komphela when they were together at Chiefs in the first half of last season.

He went on to make 14 league starts for Celtic in the second half of the campaign‚ most notably scoring a goal and then receiving a red card in a 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates. –