More cash woes for Celtic as players threaten to strike
Payments made to a select few, insider says
A player strike could be on the cards at Bloemfontein Celtic.
It emerged at the weekend that players had refused to train on Friday because they had not been paid their signings-on fee.
However, some were paid on Saturday, which gave everyone hope. Celtic went on to honour their Nedbank Cup fixture against Richards Bay on Sunday and won 3-1.
Sowetan has now established that certain players have been paid, with those who bank with Nedbank receiving their money on Saturday as the club uses the same bank. According to our informant, however, it would appear that those who have received their money are regulars – those players who are usually in the 18-man squad.
“I can tell you there is going to be another strike here,” said one player.
“I heard that Roggert Nyundu, who uses Nedbank, received his money, but if you check the players who use different banks and got their money, they are also regulars ... like Lucky Baloyi,” the source said.
“So you have a situation where some are prioritised ahead of others ... But maybe the club is right in saying they paid everyone, because other regulars like Patrick Tignyemb were still waiting.”
Celtic team manager William Mothokoa insisted yesterday that Phunya Sele Sele had paid all their players, and no one was prioritised.
“What I know is that all the players have been paid and the players have been busy calling me one by one telling me they got their money,” he said.
Speaking to various players, Sowetan found out that the whole team is owed because signings-on fee are paid at a percentage every season, meaning players who joined the club recently weren’t the only ones who were affected.
“Let’s say you join the club on a three-year contract and your signing-on fee is R500 000, you are not going to get it in a single payment. So you would get 40% and the next season you get 35% and the remaining 25% in your last season,” said another player.
It’s not the first time Celtic are caught up in this situation.
Sowetan reported 14 months ago that there were cash-flow problems that led to a bleak Christmas in 2016, when junior players and staff were paid late.