The story behind the scenes

Lawyer: Bonuses and signing on fees are an issue

Tshabalala’s lawyer did not dismiss the allegations contained in the resignation letter, telling the Siya crew that Komphela had most likely decided to leave because of an opportunity to “seek greener pastures” and fill the vacant post at Arrows two days after he resigned. Mandla Tshabalala insisted that the coach had accepted the Celtic job seven months ago mindful of the struggles at play.

In December, Max Tshabalala told the Siya crew that they had no willing buyers. At the time, he said, “To sell, you have to have a willing buyer also. For now, we are not at that stage. We thought Leshabane and Mosola would come back to us with a new proposal, but that hasn’t happened. Everything is still from my own pocket, but you can’t cry and cry without fixing the problems.”

Mandla Tshabalala acknowledged the instability at the club and confirmed that his cousin Max Tshabalala remains a willing seller of the PSL franchise given he can no longer handle the burden of running a football team in the elite league.

One of the telltale signs that Celtic were a club in dire financial straits were the countless times players went on strike – and Komphela used this as a reference point for poor preparation.

Mandla Tshabalala did not refute any of this when the Siya crew sought to verify the coach’s remarks. “To be honest with you, paying salaries is not a problem. The issue has always been bonuses and signing-on fees, but on a monthly basis we have been able to pay salaries thanks to the R1.5 million grant from the PSL,” he explained.

SARS R40m debt not an issue

Asked for an update on the SARS debacle, Mandla Tshabalala was a bit evasive.

“This is really not an issue,” he told the Siya crew. “People want to make it sound like this whole SARS thing is a problem when it’s not. Celtic and SARS have an agreement, which is being honoured on a monthly basis.

“In fact, SARS had told those potential buyers that they could settle that debt via the TPA (third party appointment) rule. If they paid SARS it would have been similar to paying us, and the sale would have gone through.”

Not long after this likely sale fell flat, Celtic players again went on strike days prior to hosting Maritzburg as the club faced more debt. It was reported that the players were protesting management’s failure to actually see the sale of the club go through – which then cast their own futures in doubt.

Celtic were saved the embarrassment of being the first club in the history of the PSL to be charged with misconduct on the grounds of failing to arrive for a league game.

Sale of players

One of the ways Celtic has attempted to stay above water is through the sale of defender Alfred Ndengane to Pirates, although the club had initially painted a picture of a player who departed by mutual consent.

Siya sources have suggested that the 31-year-old, who left Phunya Sele Sele in October but could only be eligible to play for the Buccaneers three months later, had been part of an agreement done in good faith to help ease the Celtic owner’s financial burden.

Komphela mentioned the loss of a key players Ndengane and Lorenzo Gordinho, whose loan spell from Chiefs ended last month, as a major setback given the club’s impressive defensive record before he quit.

The Siya crew also reported last week that two more players in vice captain Wandisile Letlabika – another defender – and striker Ndumiso Mabena have been linked with an exit.

Both players have contracts running out at the end of the season and it would be tempting for Celtic to cash in on them now rather than lose them as free agents to potential suitors, believed to be Chiefs and Maritzburg respectively.

Tshepo Rikhotso has also been linked win an exit, with Siya sources indicating last year that Pirates were keen on bringing him to Orlando.

Siya sources have indicated that some of the players do not feel secure at the club and are looking at securing transfers out of the club, given the opportunity.

PSL coy on financial aid…

When approached for comment on whether the league has gone beyond the monthly contributions to assist Celtic, Mato Madlala, the league’s acting CEO, told the Siya crew that that kind of information was confidential.

R2.5 million bailout

Mabena Pule, the chairman of the Supporters’ Club, told the Siya crew that there were meetings scheduled with Celtic management as well as the Free State premier, Sisi Ntombela, to map the way forward.

He indicated to the crew that the provincial government had offered a once-off payment understood to be around R2.5 million, which would certainly go a long way in taking off the financial pressure. Ntombela or her office could not be reached for comment to elaborate on the proposed bailout.