Following the shocking departure of coach Julius Dube at the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League outfit Zizwe United earlier this week, the club has since come forward to clear the air and set the record straight.
Dube recently guided the side to the national playoffs after defeating FN Rangers 4-3 on penalties in the provincial playoffs. The game ended 2-all after extra time.
The club has cited that it went into bonus negotiations with coach Dube as their standard practice before the playoffs on the 10th of May 2022, however, Dube came to the management meeting with two sets of contracts already typed and ready to be signed by the management of which they did not agree upon.
As a result, He [Dube] refused to suspend the discussions pertaining to the said contracts.
“Indeed, it is one of the unprecedented occurrences where a team would part ways with the head coach at a very critical moment of the season. As some of the followers of Zizwe United would recall, we went to the national playoffs with him twice already. The first playoffs were held in East London. The second playoffs were held in Vaal-Triangle, Gauteng. Sadly, it is a well-known fact that Zizwe United was unsuccessful on both occasions,” read Zizwe’s statement.
“It is our standard practice that the club and Mr Dube would enter into bonus negotiations and sign an agreement before the playoffs. On the 10th May 2022, unlike the previous occasions, Mr Dube came to the management meeting with two sets of contracts already typed and ready to be signed by the management.
“The first contract which relates to his bonus if the club gains promotion: In his first contract, Mr Dube demanded an amount of R350 000.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Rand) irrespective of the price won by the Club and the same would be payable within fourteen days of gaining promotion. He appreciated the fact that an amount of R1 million will be given to the winner of the finals and R500 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Rand) will be given to the runners up. Mr Dube initially demanded this amount irrespective of the amount won by the club.
“We engaged each other for days and at least reached an agreement as far as the first contract (bonus) is concerned.
“Second Contract: Mr Dube proposed that the Club conclude what purports to be a pre-contract of employment in the event the Club gains promotion to the Glad Africa Championship. Suffice to say that this contract too contained numerous demands with exorbitant figures and amounts. The club came with a counter-proposal to his contract and suggested that both parties should agree that “in the event that the Club gains promotion to the Glad Africa Championship, he will be employed as the Head Coach but the terms thereof shall be discussed after the playoffs and same would be reduced in writing”. Mr Dube labelled the proposed arrangement as a blank envelope and was adamant that the club should sign the purported pre-contract before we go to the national playoffs.”
This hurdle resulted in a series of meetings between both parties to consider his position but, all attempts were in vain.
On the club’s last attempt, they met with Dube to find out if he had considered his position and he indicated that “he was not happy with the decision and the club should sack him”. However, the club requested him to reconsider his position and come back, but unfortunately, he could not.
In the end, the Cape club had no other options available but to accept that Dube could not be part of the club as they were far apart from each other as far as the pre-contract is concerned.
“The club wishes to thank him for his contribution throughout the season and wish him well in his future endeavours,” the press release further stated.
“We wish to concentrate on the upcoming National Playoffs and leave that aspect as water under the bridge.”
Meanwhile, Sinenkani FC co-coach Tshepo Motsoaneng has been robbed to come to assist the side ahead of the National Playoffs.
