Wits Chief Executive Officer Jose Ferreira has confirmed they have released their players for Gordon Igesund’s Bafana Bafana squad for the CHAN tournament, and explained the club’s stance.
Ferreira thanked Danny Jordaan, Irvin Khoza and Natasha Tsichlas for their involvement in the negotiations between the club and SAFA, and insisted the club remained willing to assist the national team at all times, as long as their interests were taken into consideration.
Ferreira said, "Bidvest Wits wrote to SAFA last Sunday confirming that we would not be releasing our players because certain conditions attached to us releasing our players had not been met.
“We have, at all times, remained firm and resolute in our position that unless the interests of Bidvest Wits were adequately protected we would not release our players.
"We can confirm that an agreement has now been reached to our full satisfaction, and we have accordingly agreed to immediately release our players.
"Bidvest Wits would like to take this opportunity to thank the President of SAFA, Dr Danny Jordaan, for his personal and tenacious commitment to resolving this matter.
“Finally, and just as important, we would also like to thank the Chairman of the PSL, Dr Irvin Khoza and Mrs Natasha Tsichlas, from the SAFA Executive Committee, whose timely interventions were critical when discussions between SAFA and Bidvest Wits were hopelessly deadlocked.
"Bidvest Wits has at all times indicated its willingness to assist the national team provided the interests of Bidvest Wits were taken into consideration, and we will continue to do so in the future."