Editor's Blog
One of the Wikipedia definitions for a "Loan" reads: "A thing that is borrowed, especially a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with interest." Basically, when someone lends you something, they're not giving it to you permanently – it has to be given back according to your agreement and the expected time frame. In football, the same principle applies whenever a player is loaned out to another team, while he is still contracted to his original club. The 'interest' that is expected when the player returns is usually, and most importantly, the much-needed game-time. The player is loaned out because the technical team feels he will not be enjoying much game-time, for whatever reasons, that season and therefore he should be shipped out to get playing elsewhere. He can also be loaned out as part of a transaction between two clubs. In all of this, all three parties, i.e. the two clubs and the player, have to agree on the terms for the deal to be concluded. While loaning out players is a common practice, no two loans are the same. Every loan deal has its own terms and because, at face value, they all look the same, it is easy for people to draw the conclusion that every loan move is the same. There are loan moves where the mother club will send their player out to an interested club and agree to continue paying the full salary of the player. The mother club can dictate the terms of the agreement because other than the player getting the much-needed game-time, the loaning club doesn't have anything to lose or any expenditure. They don't have to pay a cent for that player as long as he toes the line and continues to perform. In a situation like that, the mother club can recall their player when the need arises, obviously during a stipulated period, which is the transfer window period. All they need to do is to notify the loaning club but, before that, there has to have been a clause to that effect when the loan deal was signed. It can't be a last-minute thing or reaction to a desperate situation the mother club finds itself in. That's why, until recently, Mamelodi Sundowns were able to stop their loaned out players from playing against them. It was part of the agreement between the two clubs because Sundowns were contributing towards their on-loan players' salaries. It made business sense for Sundowns not to play against a player they're paying a salary to; however, if they didn't contribute anything towards the player's salary, they wouldn't be able to reach an agreement that would prohibit their players from playing against them with any club. Some loan deals happen to be part of a big transaction between two teams, where one team will buy a big-name player and add one or two more players to go on loan to sweeten the deal with the big-name player's team. Again, such agreements depend on the negotiations because there are loan deals that come with an option to buy the player permanently, while others are just straightforward loan deals that will expire and see the player going back to his old club. When it comes to loan recalls, there are so many other aspects that need to be taken into consideration. A player will root his family up and relocate for the duration of his agreed loan move. That relocation includes changing schools, work transfers or finding a new job in the new city, among other things, and all of that has to be done according to the duration of the loan period. When there's no recall clause in the contract, there's no potential recall in mind when these plans are made, which is why some players refuse to be recalled before the agreed time. Sometimes it is not just about returning to the original club but the whole logistical nightmare that comes with moving especially between different provinces. Kaizer Chiefs' intentions to recall their central defender, Lorenzo Gordinho, who was loaned out to Bloemfontein Celtic, has caught a lot of people's attention. It is because of the reaction from a number of passionate football supporters that I decided to dedicate this column to this seemingly thorny issue. Gordinho was, surprisingly I must add, loaned out to Celtic for the year and not just a season. That means his deal would only expire in December as his move was from January 2018 to January 2019. Gordinho's move had nothing to do with Kabelo Mahlasela, who joined Chiefs at the same time as the defender made his way to Siwelele, financially that is, but may have been used by Chiefs to sweeten the deal in order to get their prized target from Celtic while sending their young defender out to get regular game-time. Because of the way the deal was structured, where the player would get his full salary from Celtic, it has not been easy for Chiefs to get their man back before the agreed period of the loan. They've made their intentions clear by sending out a letter of request to Celtic but the Free State-based club has so far, rightfully and legally, put their foot down and refused to budge, considering the big impact the 24-year-old has had in the team's defence since joining. He has been a pillar of strength alongside imposing and towering Bulelani Alfred Ndengane. At the time of going to print, with just over a week before the transfer window period slams shut, Chiefs were still trying to secure the services of their defender while they were still pretty much banging their heads against the wall. For Chiefs to get their way, they'll now have to convince Celtic by either paying their way out of their loan contract or appease them with another player. That will only depend on Celtic's willingness to consider the negotiations otherwise, as mentioned earlier, Chiefs would have to wait until the loan expiry period arrives in December in order to have their man back. Simple as that. Cheers VeeJay
