Bloemfontein, South Africa, 19 January: Malawi international striker, Frank Gabadihno Mhango decision to sign pre-contract with South African Premiership side Bidvet Wits has angered Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club as a result it has instantly released him.
The Chairperson of Bloemfontein Celtic FC, Max Tshabalala explained that the club has been negotiating with Mhango and his agent to extend his stay at the club for over a year now with the latest being last Friday.
The Chairperson of Bloemfontein Celtic FC, Max Tshabalala explained that the club has been negotiating with Mhango and his agent to extend his stay at the club for over a year now with the latest being last Friday.
He said what particularly irked him is that he learnt about the issue through the media when all paper work had been completed.
According to Tshabalala, earlier the player had assured him of his continued stay with the club by strongly pooh-poohing rumours of his departure from the club next season.
He described Mhango decision to sign a pre-contract deal with his new club behind Celtic back as unprofessional.
“We are stunned by Mhango’s pre-contract signing with Wits after having numerous discussions with him and his agent for more than a year.
“Even this past Friday, whist preparing for the Kaiser Chiefs game, he adamantly denied rumours about his departure and made commitment that he will extend his contract with us. I deem his conduct to be unprofessional,” he explained.
He told the club official website www.bloemfonteincelticfc.co.za that the club has decided to release the Malawian instantly because he will not be strongly committed to the club cause in the remaining six months of his deal with the club.
Tshabalala disclosed that the club had entered into agreement with Mhango handlers that the two sides would start negotiating his new contract after the player has fully recovered from his injury that had haunted him last season.
According to Tshabalala, earlier the player had assured him of his continued stay with the club by strongly pooh-poohing rumours of his departure from the club next season.
He described Mhango decision to sign a pre-contract deal with his new club behind Celtic back as unprofessional.
“We are stunned by Mhango’s pre-contract signing with Wits after having numerous discussions with him and his agent for more than a year.
“Even this past Friday, whist preparing for the Kaiser Chiefs game, he adamantly denied rumours about his departure and made commitment that he will extend his contract with us. I deem his conduct to be unprofessional,” he explained.
He told the club official website www.bloemfonteincelticfc.co.za that the club has decided to release the Malawian instantly because he will not be strongly committed to the club cause in the remaining six months of his deal with the club.
Tshabalala disclosed that the club had entered into agreement with Mhango handlers that the two sides would start negotiating his new contract after the player has fully recovered from his injury that had haunted him last season.
“Remember, he has just recovered from injury and both parties agreed to allow him to fully recover then restart negotiations and that is exactly what we have done.
“I was incredibly shocked hearing via the media and later receiving the letter from Wits confirming the signing,” he added.
Meanwhile, a local soccer analyst, Joy Kakhona has faulted the decision made by Mhango and his handler to dump Celtic for Wits.
Kakhona said this was particularly painful because the move occurred at the moment Mhango was starting to ease his way into the club’s first eleven and was beginning to regain his old form.
“It was very wrong for him to move now particularly at the time he was starting to enjoy more game time and playing well. He would have waited to let things fall in place.
“This is likely going to affect the player performance. I will not be surprised that if things start to get out of hand later,” Kakhona told a local radio Tuesday morning.
“I was incredibly shocked hearing via the media and later receiving the letter from Wits confirming the signing,” he added.
Meanwhile, a local soccer analyst, Joy Kakhona has faulted the decision made by Mhango and his handler to dump Celtic for Wits.
Kakhona said this was particularly painful because the move occurred at the moment Mhango was starting to ease his way into the club’s first eleven and was beginning to regain his old form.
“It was very wrong for him to move now particularly at the time he was starting to enjoy more game time and playing well. He would have waited to let things fall in place.
“This is likely going to affect the player performance. I will not be surprised that if things start to get out of hand later,” Kakhona told a local radio Tuesday morning.
By: Joel Chirwa
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