Hi everyone, how are you all doing today?
In this week's edition of Soccer Laduma, 887, we invited all our readers to log onto the Soccer Laduma Supporters Club and get the story behind the Knowledge Musona and Kazier Chiefs saga - why the Zimbabwe striker did not return to Naturena.
Musona's on-and-off move to Chiefs was the biggest story of this transfer window. It kept the Amakhosi faithful on tenterhooks for weeks on end, and the Siya crew were on top of the deal from start to finish.
The man who had his finger on the pulse of what was going on was Musona's agent, CEO of Prosport International Mike Makaab. We spoke to Mike to find out what exactly went on with the deal.
Hope you enjoy the read,
Eddie
Soccer Laduma: Mike, this was a deal with many twists and turns and ups and downs…
Mike Makaab: This deal didn't go through for a number of reasons. But let's start with what happened at the end. Knowledge was on the verge of signing on Monday night for top Dutch side FC Twente, however the whole deal hinged on them selling their star striker to English Premier League club Hull City. When that deal didn't go through, they obviously couldn't sign Knowledge.
SL: Mike, before we talk about the Chiefs part, why has it been difficult for Knowledge to get a club in Europe?
MM: Remember Knowledge was injured towards the end of last season at Chiefs and when he came back to Hoffenheim he had not fully recovered. It's very difficult to try and place a player while he's in rehab. It's as simple as that. Furthermore, once he was out of rehab his fitness was obviously not where it should be, which then gave us limited opportunities to get him on trial anywhere.
SL: So what was the plan?
MM: What we tried to do was talk to clubs that we had good relationships with. Clubs that trusted us, for example Belgian clubs FC Brugge and Genk, FC Twente in Holland and Granada in Spain, and obviously Kaizer Chiefs. But again with the overseas clubs, once he was fit, there wasn't much time left of the transfer window to prove himself.
SL: What happened with Chiefs?
MM: Firstly the player and ourselves were totally transparent with Chiefs. Chiefs wanted him but Knowledge made it clear his first choice was to stay overseas. While those opportunities were limited, it made sense to talk seriously to Chiefs. In SA it was only Chiefs as far as Knowledge was concerned. The personal package they offered him was fantastic and we all basically agreed on that.
SL: Then what was the problem?
MM: When Chiefs added up what it would cost them for the one year loan and the option to buy, it became way too expensive for them in their eyes. But you have to understand Hoffenheim's point of view, they talk in Euros and in the middle of this deal the Rand dropped considerably, and that made the deal even more expensive for Chiefs. That's no ones fault, that's just the currency market.
SL: But didn't Chiefs know the deal from the start?
MM: To a certain extent yes, but when you get closer to finalisation and all the numbers get added up and you put all the cards on the table, and you then throw in the weaker Rand, I can understand why they walked away. It would have been a very expensive one-year deal.
SL: So what happens now?
MM: Hopefully he gets fully fit and confident and wins a regular place in Hoffenheim. If not, it gives us enough time to find another club for him in Europe by the January transfer window.
SL: What about Chiefs?
MM: In the January transfer window if we haven't got a club for him in Europe, Chiefs is genuinely a very good option. And by then the numbers may be different.
