Kruger United contract dispute with Thabang Sibanyoni to be heard by PSL DRC

The PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) is set to hear a dispute between Kruger United and striker Thabang Sibanyoni after the player was released by the club over a contract that was signed by him and his agent but not by the club.

Sibanyoni has taken the matter to the DRC following his departure from Kruger United. He claims the club offered him a 12-month contract, which he signed together with his representative, Themba Shabalala of TT Sports.

However, Kruger United did not sign the agreement, despite Sibanyoni spending approximately three weeks with the club. The striker was also included among the 15 new players announced by Kruger United last month.

Shabalala said the player and his representatives were prepared to pursue the matter through the legal process.

“The matter is being dealt with by our lawyer, but I can tell you it’s before the PSL DRC,” said Shabalala.

He said the agreement had been negotiated with the club’s sporting director, Elasto Kapowedza, and that both sides had reached an understanding before the contract was signed by Sibanyoni and his agent.

“The bottom line is we agreed to a deal with Kruger United through their sporting director, Elasto Kapowedza, and they sent us a contract. We agreed on everything, and we signed. I mean, Thabang and I,” he said.

The dispute later centred on concerns Kruger United allegedly raised about Sibanyoni’s medical condition. Shabalala rejected the suggestion that the striker had failed medical tests or was carrying an injury.

“The whole team did two medical tests, and there was no issue with Thabang. They asked for his clearance around the 13th of July and we forwarded it to them after we got it from Magesi. He was then announced as one of their new signings, on their own platforms. The player was later asked to go for a third medical, and Thabang went for it. He came back and said there was nothing. I remember Thabang had a knee operation in 2016. That was 10 years ago, and Thabang has never had issues,” stated Shabalala.

Sibanyoni previously played regularly for Richards Bay and Magesi, and Shabalala said the player had not experienced injury problems at either club. He also said Sibanyoni trained and played for Kruger United, including in the Mpumalanga Premier’s Cup, before being told to return home.

“Kruger United then informed us that Thabang’s knee is loose, but Thabang was training, and he has no injury worries. If you check, he played regularly at Richards Bay and Magesi. He had no injury concerns, and even now at Kruger United, he played in the (Mpumalanga) Premier’s Cup, with no issues. He was told to go home. He was with them for three weeks, trained and played for them. That’s when we went to our lawyer, who sent Kruger United a letter seeking clarity, and they never responded. We went to the PSL, and they have sent communication to Kruger United. So the matter will now go to the DRC,” added Shabalala.

Kruger United said it could not comment in detail while the case was before the PSL. Kapowedza confirmed that the club had received correspondence and that its legal representatives would handle the matter.

“We are waiting to see how the matter will progress… it’s difficult to comment on our standpoint at the moment, because we have received letters. It’s a legal matter that will be handled by our legal team,” said Kapowedza.