Cape Town Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou has explained why Reece Braithwaite’s proposed move to Orlando Pirates’ DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] side remains on hold, citing failure to report for training despite getting paid.
Efstathiou confirmed that the delay is not related to football matters, but rather an unresolved contractual issue. According to the club, the young defender failed to report for training while still receiving his salary.
The dynamic 20-year-old left-back has been training with the Pirates DDC squad for several weeks, but cannot be registered for official matches until Spurs issue his clearance.
After dropping into the ABC Motsepe League and transitioning to amateur football, Spurs have found themselves caught up in a series of legal disputes.
Spurs have lost against Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman, who both joined Kaizer Chiefs as free agents following SAFA arbitration. The club also lost cases involving Therlo Moosa, who moved to Cape Town City, and Liam Bern, who joined AmaZulu FC.
Despite those precedents, CT Spurs are standing firm in Braithwaite’s case, slowing what appears to be an imminent move to the Buccaneers.
EFSTATHIOU EXPLAINS BRAITHWAITE’S SITUATION
“Reece didn’t come to training,” Efstathiou said. “He took two months’ worth of salary knowing he wasn’t returning, and those salaries haven’t been paid back.”
When asked whether Braithwaite would be granted clearance if the money was refunded, Efstathiou said: “It would be a sign of good faith, wouldn’t it? It’s always the club that’s blamed, never the players,” he said. “All the players took their salaries knowing they wouldn’t come back. Some have refunded the money, some haven’t.
“His agent must sort it out. His agent is Lance Davids, he is the lawyer. He must get the clearance the same way the others did,” Efstathiou concluded.
RELATED STORY: CT Spurs begin life in ABC Motsepe League in style