Dolly can go – Motsepe
Mamelodi Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe says he is ready and willing to let star player Keagan Dolly make his protracted move to Europe.
Patrice Motsepe, President of Mamelodi Sundowns during a Press Conference in Sandton. Motsepe is South Africa’s richest black man. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu / BackpagePix.
The club took the player to a Premier Soccer League Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) to resolve a release clause dispute on the player’s contract.
Sundowns claimed the amount on the contract was a mistake and was too low, and this claim was upheld by the DRC.
Motsepe called a press conference yesterday where he insisted Dolly would get his move if the release clause was met.
“If we get an offer, we will release him immediately because it is very important from our side that we need to keep morale at the club optimum at all times.
“If there is a chance for a player to go overseas and earn more money, I would love Keagan to go because it is in the interest of the club that he realises his dream and what is more important is that you don’t want a player in your club whose heart is not there.
“I cannot have board members who I overrule when ethically they are correct. And ethically, there is a buyout clause. What people don’t understand is that part of the buyout clause is money that we spent in the past. If you ask me whose interest is more important, Keagan’s or Sundowns, I will say Keagan’s.
Motsepe also revealed that he had rewarded African Coach-of-the-Year Pitso Mosimane with a four-year contract.
On the other hand, Motsepe also said he would not stand in Mosimane’s way if the former Bafana mentor wants go back to the national team. The South African Football Association are looking for a new coach after sacking Shakes Mashaba.
“I’d like Pitso to be the Arsene Wenger (of Sundowns), when the supporters came and said he must go, what they didn’t know is that I had been after Pitso for some time because in my position, I have a duty to develop South African football. If we are not going to develop SA talent, whose duty is it to develop? That is why I gave him a four-year contract. We would like him to stay for many years, but personally, I would also like him to go overseas.
“If Bafana want Pitso, he must agree. For us at Sundowns, it has always been South Africa first in everything we do, whether it is football or business. At the end of the day, it is not what I want – it is about what Pitso wants.”
