Downs fuming at publication

Mamelodi Sundowns have reacted angrily to a report in The Sowetan yesterday suggesting that the club had acted illegally in the registration of captain Alje Schut, and was about to act illegally in relation to the registration of two other players.

The article seems to be a sequel to a question journalist Mark Gleeson asked Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane about what he was going to do with the foreign players the club had signed as Sundowns had exceeded the number permitted by the PSL at a press conference at the weekend.

Mosimane referred Gleeson to the PSL, and said that Sundowns had registered players to make up the club’s foreign quota, and it only required Gleeson to check with the PSL which players had been registered.

The limitation on the number of players a club has is on the players REGISTERED with the PSL and therefor being eligible to play. The number of players a team KEEPS on their books is, as coach Pitso Mosimane pointed out, an internal matter between those players and the club.

The report stated that “the side’s Dutch born captain, Alje Schut, is also registered as a local after Downs paid to get him immediate permanent residency when he arrived last year. They bought him special status in the category of “financial independence” in a ruse that, while not illegal, is unsporting and caught a dithering Premier Soccer League unaware.”

The facts are that neither Sundowns, nor any person or company can BUY this status. The law in this regard is quite clear: The player had to PROVE financial independence, and own assets of no less than R7-million from his home country for him – or any other person who makes a similar application – to get classified under this. To suggest that Sundowns played some underhand game, or acted illegally, to beat the system, and used a “ruse” or a “subterfuge” is defamatory, and Sundowns have demanded that this statement must be withdrawn forthwith.

The article has negatively impacted on the good name of the player, Mamelodi Sundowns and the Board of Mamelodi Sundowns.

Any employer is entitled to use the law as it stands to accommodate a qualifying employee, and if others were not aware of this, it is hardly the fault of Mamelodi Sundowns. Neither can Sundowns see what is “unsporting” in this as suggested in the report.