MBABANE – Despite Denver Sundowns claiming Siphamandla Maseko is theirs, reports suggesting that the player has no running contract with the ‘Kappa Boys’ have emerged.
Sundowns in yesterday’s publication, through their CEO Elvis Dube, announced that the player signed a two-year contract with them. Dube said the contract was signed before the player went for trials to Marumo Gallants recently. According Siphamandla’s father in former Mbabane Highlanders and Green Mamba defender Jabulani ‘Codesa’ Maseko, the player’s contract expired in May. “There is no contract with Sundowns. His two-year contract expired in May,” said Codesa. He said while it was true that he had no contract with Sundowns, whoever wanted the player should give Sundowns a token of appreciation for raising the boy and also facilitating his trials expenses. “That said, Dube must not say that the player has a contract, we both know he has no contract, so he must come clear, if a local team comes, they should negotiate with them and ask for a token of appreciation; they should not use that contract which was designed for a South African team which we all agreed would not exist when the boy does not get the deal,” he said.
He also highlighted that he was a Highlanders supporter at heart but would not chose a team for the player. “If he wants to stay at Sundowns so be it. If he wants to join Swallows, it will be his choice, Highlanders also wanted the boy, but I cannot decide on his behalf. All I want for the boy is to continue playing football; they must not frustrate him,” said the father. Sundowns CEO Dube insisted that the player had a contract with them and when asked to send the contract as a proof, he was yet to do so at the time of compiling this report. Meanwhile, efforts to get comments from Swallows or the player were futile as they could not be reached immediately. However his father hinted that he also had no contract with Swallows, saying he was only training with them. Maseko impressed at Marumo but the problem was that the team relocated and could not sign the latter. Thereafter, he was invited by the newly-promoted DStv Premiership outfit Polokwane City to take part in one of their friendly games. This was when Rise and Shine faced Cape Town City FC in July.