Sandile Zungu, the AmaZulu president, has told the Siya crew he is puzzled by reports that one of the club’s star players is set to join Kaizer Chiefs!
According to several local reports, Siyethemba Sithebe is Naturena bound, with Kick-Off.com going as far as adding that the midfielder has put pen to paper on a three-year contract and is set to be unveiled by Amakhosi next month when the second registration window opens.
“Just think about it, how could he have signed or joined Kaizer Chiefs? It’s not permitted by FIFA rules – it would be in breach, and I don’t think Chiefs would want to do that. As far as I know, he is our player until further notice,” Zungu told Soccer Laduma.
“I have also read in the media that it’s a done deal at Chiefs, but I ask myself how can they do that. Not so long ago they were in a controversy that barred them from signing players (the two window FIFA transfer ban) because they breached the rules. I don’t think it’s likely to be true, but I can’t talk for the media. I don’t know where that information came from.”
The Usuthu boss also confirmed that there’s been no approach from the Soweto giants to discuss Sithebe’s transfer.
“I have had zero contact with Chiefs,” Zungu explained.
“He is under contract, and we don’t know anything about the Chiefs reports. But then the (Sibusiso) Mabiliso saga of last season says to me that you shouldn’t be surprised in football. I will be disappointed if Chiefs would want to define its relationship with AmaZulu in that manner. I can tell you we will not take kindly to it, not because we don’t have respect for players choosing to go wherever, but because it would be a bad way of establishing a long term relationship with AmaZulu.”
Amakhosi signed Mabiliso on a free as soon as their sanction was lifted in July after the young left back rejected a new offer from Usuthu.
Sithebe is now almost in a similar predicament, though for him to move next month the two clubs would have to agree a fee, unless AmaZulu terminate the player’s contract with immediate effect and render him a free agent.
“It’s an open secret that the player’s contract ends in June, we don’t hide that at all. We are the kind of football club that want to make sure that the AmaZulu brand is bigger than anybody. If a player chooses to go elsewhere, we will respect that, but we will want to make sure it is done correctly. Similarly, when we want players from other teams we will want to make sure we will follow the rules and we are not condescending in our approach towards other teams or disrespectful to their brands.”
Zungu would not make any remarks over whether the club and Sithebe are discussing a new deal to keep him at Usuthu beyond June 30 next year.
“The Mabiliso issue is water under the bridge, we are happy for the boy wherever he is. All we are asking for is that people should respect the rules. For us to read in the media that our player is as good as gone…sometimes you can’t prove it and commitments are done verbally. But if all the parties deny and yet it turns out to be as the media speculated, we can’t vouch that it cannot be because we don’t know,” the president said.
“I don’t want to comment on player contracts or negotiations because I don’t want to air things in public, whether they exist or don’t’ exist. What I am prepared to say is that his current contract ends at the end of the season, that’s an open secret.”
Chiefs also have players running out of contracts on June 30!
