Frustrated TS Galaxy players met the coach Sead Ramovic and the club’s team manager, Njabulo Sukazi, in an explosive meeting held at Sturrock Park Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The DStv Premiership outfit uses Wits’ Sturrock Park for its training sessions. And on Wednesday, players sought answers from the team manager – Njabulo Sukazi – a daughter to the club’s president, Tim Sukazi, and Ramovic about their unpaid salaries.
TS GALAXY PLAYERS UNPAID FOR TWO MONTHS
Some Galaxy players have not been paid for two months – January and February. Ramovic, who recently refuted the reports of non-payment, is heard in the audio saying: “Yes, we did not get paid…”
Players and staffers, including Phumzile Mathebula [masseur], Xola Mlambo, Given Msimango and Pogiso Sanoka, take turns to express their frustrations over the delays.
In response, Njabulo Sukazi is heard saying: “The Chairman himself is a reasonable guy … I just wanna ask personally, has anyone ever come to ask for a staff meeting?”
The players respond by saying they have repeatedly tried to reach the chairman to enquire about their dues.
Njabulo Sukazi further says that the club’s boss, Tim Sukazi, is “trying to work the situation, but you guys know, it’s important that you inquire.”
“It’s not like we enjoy you guys not being paid. We’re finding the necessary means to do so. It’s very difficult… I know Phumzile, you’re very frustrated.”
NOT EASY TO RAISE R1 MILLION
She adds that the plan was to provide half of the salaries by close of business on Wednesday, 1 March 2023. However, by midday on Thursday, 2 March, some of the players indicated they were yet to be paid.
“It’s not easy to raise R1 million just like that,” she says.
For his part, Ramovic said the club’s supremo, Tim Sukazi, visited him at his place of residence to discuss the issue.
“I had a chat with the chairman, he came to my place, and we spoke for three hours. I told him the things that happened now. What the chairman told me is he went now in the morning to [get] sponsorship. Probably he will get something now.”
He further assured staff and players that they are all important. “You’re really important to us, all of you guys,” the German said.
Ramovic publicly denied the reports after their 2-1 win over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida on 18 February 2023, describing them as “nonsense”.
“Our players, do you really believe they put this kind of effort on the field if they were not paid? No!
“So, everything that was [written] because of the media guy who was at our club, he’s no [longer] here. Maybe he’s angry and put things into media that are not true just to make something up. I don’t know what it is.
“We don’t want to spend so much time on this nonsense because our chairman is a beautiful guy.”
SAFPU WORRIED ABOUT NON-PAYMENT
SAFPU vice president Tebogo Monyai is on record as saying that the complaints from unpaid players had reached their office.
“I can assure you now that this matter has reached our office. This is not the first time. A lot of you do not know this, but about four or five months ago, TS Galaxy didn’t pay players for two months.
“We are really worried about the non-payment of players, especially in the professional ranks,” he said, as quoted by SABC Sport.
It is thought that TS Galaxy’s lavish Europe trip left the club in dire straits. The Rockets embarked on a 20-day trip to Turkey last year, playing against Italy’s Sampdoria, Al Batin of Saudi Arabia and Turkey’s Giresunspor.
Players partially contributed to the trip, as the club took 10 percent of their salaries to pay for the tour.
Earlier this year, management purchased the Hollywoodbets Super League status of Vasco Da Gama. The highly publicised purchase was followed by marquee signings, including Mpumi Nyandeni, Nothando Vilakazi and ‘Lipstick Lady’ Nomvula Kgoale.
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