Soccer franchise tug-of-war

Former Lion City owner Dr Ngubo Biyana wants his ABC Motsepe League soccer franchise back, claiming that Wanda Mbenguzana has reneged on the deal by not paying him.

Biyana sold his club’s status to Mbenguzana in July 2018 and it was registered as Peace Makers for the new season.

But Biyana has now lodged a request with Safa Eastern Cape to return the ownership of the club to him and to change its name back to Lion City.

The Motherwell doctor said former Chippa United general team manager Mbenguzana had not paid for the franchise of which he took ownership for what is believed to be a sixfigure amount.

“I have received nothing from them. There is no communication.

“I do not know what is happening and the worst part is that he is not even answering my calls,” Biyana said.

“I am very hurt by what is happening because I had a talk with my players to tell them I was selling the team’s status.

“I thought I was handing the team over to people who [would] take good care of it.

“I am very disappointed by the manner in which they do things – it is so unprofessional.”

On Monday, Biyana e-mailed Safa Eastern Cape secretary Isaac Klaas asking that he immediately reverse the sale of the club to Peace Makers.

The letter, which was copied to Mbenguzana, read: “The above mention [sic] club [Lion City] would like to withdraw the sale of its status to Peace Makers FC due to [a] breach in the agreement reached by the two parties [Lion City and Peace Makers FC].

“We would like Safa to immediately withdraw the letter we submitted to your office about the change in ownership and therefore take the club’s status back and trade as Lion City Football Club once more.”

Biyana said he had met Mbenguzana on four occasions to discuss the deal.

“The signing of the deal was done at my house.

“There was an amount they were meant to pay immediately after signing, but it has not been paid.

“The outstanding balance was then meant to be paid in instalments of three months.”

Klaas acknowledged receiving the letter.

“I have told Biyana I will liaise with our legal department and get back to him.”

Asked whether he had heard from Peace Makers, Klaas said: “The only e-mail I received from them was to change their Saturday match time from 3pm to 1pm.”

Attempts to reach Mbenguzana on Tuesday proved fruitless despite phone calls, SMSes, WhatsApp messages and a voice message.

When contacted for comment previously, Mbenguzana replied via WhatsApp: “I don’t wish to comment. You can take [Biyana’s] side [of the story]. It’s okay.”

Mbenguzana resigned from his position as Chippa’s general team manager in August after being in the position since the club’s inception in 2010.

According to Biyana, Chilli Boys owner Siviwe Mpengesi had also approached him, expressing interest in purchasing his club’s status.

“I received a phone call from Chippa Mpengesi early in July inquiring whether my ABC status was still for sale.

“I said yes.

“He then asked how much am I selling the team for, and I told him.”

The ABC Motsepe League is the third tier of SA soccer.