Yesterday, the Siya crew revealed that Polokwane City defender, Sifiso Mbhele’s agent, Ratshibvumo Mulovhedzi was unhappy about the player’s treatment following an injury the player sustained last weekend against Free State Stars.
Polokwane City Media and Liaison officer, Patrick Baloyi, responded in a statement to the claims.
“Polokwane City would like to put it in record that defender Sifiso Mbhele who sustained a knee injury against Free State Stars was never mistreated as claimed by his so-called agent Ratshibvumo Mulovhedzi,” said Baloyi.
According to Mulovhedzi, “I begged City’s officials to leave the player at the hospital, I was prepared to pay medical costs and transport him on myself to Limpopo, the coach was there but they refused. His painful leg was covered with a plaster to ensure it remains straight yet insisted on transporting him by the bus. I asked them what was happening, and they told me they will take the player to hospital in Limpopo,”
But City spokesman Baloyi hit back by declaring Mulovhedzi as an attention seeking person.
“People like Mulovhedzi must not seek to hog the limelight at our expense. How can a fully-fledged team that campaigns in the PSL leave an injured player at the hands of an unrecognised person claiming to be his agent?” said Baloyi.
“When Sifiso got injured we took him to Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem and through proper channels, the doctor advised us that the injury was not as bad as we initially thought and we can take him home and get proper treatment in Limpopo. We then went as far as asking the player what was his take on the matter and he agreed to leave with the team and we are now worried that people like Mulovhedzi are misleading the public.
“Upon arriving in Polokwane, Sifiso was then taken to Dr H Q A Stander, a diagnostic radiologist in Polokwane, who provided a statement which read “the joint spaces and the ligament of the left knee are within normal limits. There are no bony fractures noted. No lytic or sclerotic bony lesions are noted. There is some slight obliteration noted of the left supra-patella fatpad and this cn be suggestive of a possible joint effusion.'"
According to Baloyi, the player is responding well to treatment and they are happy with his progress. He will be out for six weeks.
“Finally, Sifiso had distanced himself from knowing Mulovhedzi,” added Baloyi.
However, Siya crew contacted Mulovhedzi for comment, he said that he’s sticking to his story, “If I was not with my player at the hospital how did I know that he was taken to Limpopo for treatment. Anyway, my only concern is the well-being of the player so I won’t get involved with this mudslinging with City. I understand that they need to protect their brand. As for the comment that I’m not his agent, I don’t understand what they are trying to imply that because I’m the one who took Sifiso to City and signed the deal with them,”
By Phumzile Ngcatshe
Follow Phumzile on Twitter: @PhumzileSL10
