As someone who is well versed in the legal matters, TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi has weighed in on the issue of Lucas Ribeiro Costa and whether or not this could open up a can of worms going forward for players who want to be released.
Ribeiro has been at a stand off with Sundowns, with the player wanting to leave even though he still has a contract. Sundowns have not accepted an offer from Qatar for the player and the Brazilian sort the assistance of FIFA to have his contract with the Tshwane giants terminated.
READ: Another Downs Player Exit Not Ruled Out?
As a chairman, and someone who knows the value of players, Sukazi gave his thoughts on the matter when Soccer Laduma visited him at his office earlier this week.
"It's not easy, not just in South Africa, for the biggest clubs to transfer their players just like that. There are a number of factors that come into play. Mind you, these clubs would be affording these players any way, but then there will be some suitors who will say they can do them better. But Sundowns can pay Ribeiro any money that is being dangled to him, if they wish to. That's why you have Sundowns wanting to put their foot down. While Sundowns have te ability, they are also guided by their in-house situation," Sukazi said to Soccer Laduma.
"Sundowns is not a club that would need the money. R50 million maybe would not make a difference to their lives. At TS Galaxy, for sure. They maybe don't need it. They are driven by ambition. They want to win the Champions League and they want to be high up there amongst the best clubs in the world and it's players like Ribeiro who make a difference. That's why they brought him here. So, when that dream is about to unfold, then this players want to leave. So, they will resist. They will want to assert their rights. What happens is the failure of the meeting of the minds. They see their own worlds with different eyes and you can only hope sanity prevails at some point."
