SAFPU CLAIMS VICTORY ON CEZU/CHIPPA MATTER
The South African Football Players Union is claiming victory on the matter involving Avela Cezu and his former club Chippa United.
Having joined the Chilli Boys in 2020, after spending some time without a club following his exit from Richards Bay FC, Cezu spent only one season with the Gqeberha-based outfit before he was released last year.
The 27-year-old went on to join BCM Stars in the ABC Motsepe League, which is a club that is owned by Wanda Mbenguzana, who is part of the management at Chippa.
Speaking to the Siya crew, SAFPU’s Calvin Motloung confirmed that they represented Cezu at the PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber as he sought to get payment from the club after the two parties parted ways.
“We have been busy with the matter involving Chippa United and Avela Cezu. It’s a matter from last year after the club defaulted on the player’s settlement when his contract was terminated.
“It was a three-month settlement, although the player still had two years on his contract with the club when his contract was terminated. We have won the matter and the club has been ordered to pay,” said Motloung.
THREE YEARS FOR MZANSI CLUB IN CELTIC PARTNERSHIP
The length of the lucrative partnership between Johannesburg-based Transition Football Club and Scottish giants Celtic has now been revealed to the Siya crew.
As reported by Soccer Laduma last week, Transition FC landed a promising partnership with 51-time Scottish Premier League winners Celtic.
Now, the latest news reaching the crew is that the partnership has been signed for a period of three years, in which players and coaches will be exchanged, trained and developed between the two clubs over that period.
Transition Managing Director Claudio Lorenzani elaborated on how the three-year partnership will work. “The partnership is from 2022 to 2025. And within those three years, we have the stepping stones see how we can get the kids to a greater level with the use of the Celtic philosophy. And in the first year, we want to take some teams over to play some tournaments and some friendly games there,” Lorenzani told the crew.
“So that by year three, we want to ensure that the best players, not only from Transition Football but from other clubs in South Africa, get the opportunity to showcase their talent abroad,” he added.
Lorenzani and goalkeeper coach Bradley Bergsteedt have spent the last two weeks in Scotland, where they have been working closely with the Celtic first team and their academy structures.
The duo are expected to return to Mzansi in the coming days, where they will equip the rest of the club’s staff and players with their teachings gained from one of Europe’s most decorated clubs.
GALLANTS TO MAKE KGOETYANE CALL
Marumo Gallants will decide on the future of defender Matome Kgoetyane at the end of the season, with the player’s time at the club uncertain.
Kgoetyane joined the club before the start of the campaign after his contract was not renewed by Limpopo rivals Baroka FC at the end of last season. The right back started the campaign as a regular in the side under former coach Sebastien Migné, but has not featured as much under current mentor Dan Malesela, who
has been playing Mpho Mvelase in that position.
The 30-year-old has made 13 appearances in all competitions for the Nedbank Cup semifinalists this term, but the last time he featured in a league match was in December in a 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates.
He is yet to feature in the Nedbank Cup, while he played four times in the CAF Confederation Cup before Gallants were knocked out in their maiden appearance in the continental club competition.
With little game-time under his belt over the last few months, the
Siya crew has been led to believe that he might not feature in the plans of head coach Dan Malesela for the next campaign, with the club sitting comfortably away from the relegation zone.
Should he stay with the club, ‘Dance’ is expected to be given an opportunity to bring in the players he wants at Gallants.
AmaZulu FC defender Limbikani Mzava will be counting on the team’s newly-appointed coach
Brandon Truter to turn his fortunes at the club around.
The Malawian is facing an uncertain future with the Durban-based club as he struggled for game-time this season. Under the club’s former coach Benni McCarthy, Mzava made only two appearances this season, before the all-time Bafana Bafana top goalscorer was replaced by Truter.
Against Baroka FC in Truter’s first official match in charge, Mzava was an unused substitute, as was the case against Horoya in the CAF Champions League group stage match at the beginning of the month.
Having signed a two-year deal when he joined Usuthu from Highlands Park in 2020, Mzava will be hoping to get some minutes in the coming games and convince the club that the option on his contract should be exercised.
“It doesn’t look good for Limbikani Mzava at AmaZulu at the moment because of his lack of game-time, but there is hope now that there is a new coach in charge as he looks like he is prepared to give everyone a chance to impress,” said a source.