Panyaza plays hide and seek over Swallows deal
PANYAZA Lesufi, pictured, has apparently gone to ground after coming under scathing criticism from the Premier Soccer League over Moroka Swallows’ proposed purchase of Free State Stars’ status.
Sowetan’s efforts to contact him have been met with silence.
PSL chairman Irvin Khoza warned Lesufi yesterday that failure to conclude a deal would result in irreparable damage to the parties involved.
Over the past month, Lesufi, who is the Gauteng MEC for education, has been vocal about Swallows’ return to the elite division, going so far as to hold gatherings with supporters, assuring them new investors had bought the team.
In Soweto last weekend, he told excited fans the club would be “back in the PSL by Wednesday”.
Khoza has now given him and his unnamed consortium until tomorrow to finalise the deal.
“There is a trust represented by MEC Lesufi and the Mokoena family, who own Free State Stars, which concluded an agreement which included certain suspensive conditions,” said Khoza.
Khoza said the deal was “acceptable as it appeared to meet the League’s requirements and secures the position of the employees, in particular the players of Free State Stars”.
He said the deal would be approved if all the facts were clarified, but that nothing had so far been approved.
“The media commentary that suggests Moroka Swallows is back in the league and Free State Stars are no longer a member is incorrect and regrettable,” Khoza stated.
He emphasised that the PSL wanted Lesufi to name the people he represents. “We await a full report from the parties. The season is about to begin and we cannot wait much longer to consider the matter. If by the end of the week we don’t have clarity then there will be nothing for us to consider. There will be no transaction, change of club or anything like that,” he warned.
Khoza chastised Lesufi for jumping the gun by announcing the proposed takeover in the media.
“The matter is under consideration at the moment and there is no reason or justification for media commentary right now. This has already caused potential prejudice and may frustrate the process,” he said.
Lesufi, meanwhile, has been unreachable this week as allegations that he had not kept his promises came thick and fast.
Two players and the SA Football Players Union told Sowetan this week that the avid Birds fan had failed to honour his promise to pay them within 72 hours.