Baroka chairman Khurishi Mphahlele insists the club is fully behind head coach Kgoloko Thobejane amid accusations of bribery against the charismatic coach.
Football agent Alpheus Thantsha has made the allegations in various publications that he paid Thobejane and goalkeeper coach Naughty Lekgau (main picture) an amount of R20 000 in exchange for three of his young players being accepted at the club’s DStv Diski Challenge team.
Thantsha claims the incident happened when Thobejane and Lekgau were still part of the DDC team before their appointment as head coach and Goalkeeper coach at the senior team.
The allegations have been strongly denied by the pair and the club.
Mphahlele says he has advised Thantsha to approach the Police and also explain what the R20 000 he alleges to have paid was for.
“Kgoloko Thobejane’s job is safe. Very much so. We are not going to entertain the corruption rumours,” said Mphahlele.
“We entertain facts. I have advised that guy to go to the Police and open a case. If they have stolen his money, he must tell the police. But he gave them money, he must also explain to the police what that money was for, not to me,” he said.
Mphahlele added that he had a conversation with Thobejane regarding the allegations and was satisfied with his side of the story.
“Yes, we spoke about the matter but it was never a big issue. There was not even a DC because we can’t take anyone to DC based on those things.
“He (Thobejane) told me his side of the story and I am happy. I don’t know how that guy operates because how do you give someone money in order for us to sign his players? It’s something that we have never done and we are not going to do that. So, I am not going to entertain that.”
FARPost has been informed that both Thobejane and Lekgau intend to open a case against Thantsha for defamation.
