A number of Marumo Gallants players are accusing the club of reneging on their agreement to pay them bonuses for reaching the semifinals of the Caf Confederation Cup.
The players have approached the South African Football Players Union (Safpu) to assist them to get what they say is due to them.
Sunday World has seen a written bonus agreement that the club entered into with the players ahead of their semifinal match against Young Africans of Tanzania.
After a brilliant run in the tournament, and against all odds, Gallants were eliminated in an aggregate 4-1 scoreline.
Gallants promised the players 30% of the Caf prize money the club was to receive for reaching the semifinals. The club earned $750 000 (about R14-million)
for its achievements in the tournament.
A soccer agent representing some of the affected players, who opted to remain anonymous, says their lawyers have sent a complaint to the PSL, because the players and the club were representing the PSL in the Caf Confederation Cup. He claims the club is now ignoring the players when they ask for their bonuses.
A Sunday World informer revealed that the agreement was entered into after the players embarked on a strike and refused to train before the second leg match against the Tanzania club in Rustenburg. He said club chairman Abram Sello drove to Rustenburg, where they were camping, and gave the players the bonus agreement.
Reads part of the agreement: “Gallants and the squad agree to enter into bonus arrangements in respect of the Caf competition. It was hereby agreed and recorded as follows: The club agrees to pay 30% of the net prize to the squad from the prize money payable by Caf to the club in respect of the ultimate stage of achievement reached by Gallants in the Caf competition.”
Safpu secretary general Nhlanhla Shabalala said he was attending to the matter.
“Some players approached and requested the union to look into the issue. They say they have an agreement with Gallants and that they have not been paid the Caf bonuses and nothing has been communicated to them. We say that all agreements must be kept and honoured. We have written a letter to the club and we hope to meet them this coming week,” said Shabalala.
Gallants communications officer Rufus Matsena said he could not comment on issues of money and referred enquiries to chairman Sello, who was not available to comment.
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