Springbok Sevens player Lionel Mapoe has lost his bid to be released from his contract at the Free State Cheetahs.
Brenden Nel – Sport24
Mapoe must now arrive in Bloemfontein by Thursday and present himself at the regular Cheetahs practice session, where he is likely to meet with the team management to plot the way forward after a contractual dispute that has lasted for months now.
Mapoe cited problems with his salary as the reason he wanted to leave, and requested, through his agent, Jan-Harm van Wyk a release certificate from the Cheetahs so that he could take up a more lucrative offer from the Sharks.
Mapoe even went as far as to start training with the Sharks for the past few months pending the outcome of the dispute, which was finally handed down on Wednesday.
Advocate Bertus van Rhyn ruled that the Cheetahs have a valid contract with the winger, and that he will have to return to Bloemfontein to play as stated in his contract.
Free State president Harold Verster said he was overjoyed by the result.
“It is great that the arbitration process proved what we knew all along, that we have a valid contract with Lionel,” Verster said.
“He now needs to get back to Bloemfontein today or tomorrow and rejoin the team. He needs to get his head right and play.”
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske also was happy with the result.
“It hopefully sends out a strong message to players that they need to honour their contracts, but we are very happy that we were right all along and that we had a valid contract with him,” Drotske added.
The Sharks weren’t available for comment.
August 11th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Must say I am well surprised by this outcome.
August 11th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
about time a contract is worth the paper it is written on!
August 11th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Gaan interessant wees Donderdag in Bloem.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Bit of a messy situatuion now.
Wonder if Sharks have to change some of their moves now?
August 11th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
What if he insist he does not want to play for the Cheetahs? Can he go on gardening leave till the end of his contract?
August 11th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Reply to manvanstaal @ 1:12 pm:
Well I would imagine it will work like any other employment contract.
Cheetahs can sue for damages, he wont be able to play for a while (restraint) etc etc.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Mapoe, with his agent will have to suck it up now, behave like a couple of grown-ups and admit they were wrong…
August 11th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Reply to Morné @ 1:18 pm: Surely the Sharks can offer a transfer fee of sorts.
I wouldn’t want a player in my side that doesn’t want to be there.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Reply to Morné @ 1:19 pm: Ja-nee, they went about it in completely the wrong fashion imo.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I’d fire my agent. Or whoever advised on this. Clowns.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Reply to manvanstaal @ 1:21 pm:
So much shit that comes into this…
I think firstly it is a matter of principle for the Cheetahs.
I dont think any team will have an issue if another team is interested in one of their players and communicates this officially to the union and then offers things like transfer fees etc.
This however seemed to have been conducted very underhanded.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Another day another drama… at least the Tahs have two exciting wingers next season and have retained all their best flankers, centres and should be able to move up another notch or two (injuries permitting)…
Whether Mapoe wants to be there is another thing…
August 11th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I would have thought it
was already a transgression
just training with the Sharks?
August 11th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
`n tawwe tameletjie.
Mapoe can be Bok. If I were him i’d give an apology tot he Cheetahs, get on the field and try regain my form.
This kid can go to NZ if he gets it right.
August 11th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Well the lions wish they had the same lawyers to draft their contracts, hehehe cheetahs 1 lions -4
August 11th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
If I were the Lions I’d phone Harold verster and ask him for a copy of their contract
August 11th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
A win-win will be to sit down and agree a transfer price to be paid by the Sharks. Cheetahs will then have some kitty to try and lure another player, while Moegoe will be able to go play wing, centre, flyhalve, fullback…. for the Sharks
August 12th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Reply to JT @ 12:56 pm: Agree players need to honour there contracts although I was glad we got Jacques through a loop hole.
Wonder how the feeling will be today in Bloem???
August 12th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 9:04 am:
Not honouring contracts is makes rugby’s naam gat! This IMO is a great decision and it should be a president for the future. If a player wants to leave then there should be some compensation to the club/province that brought him to where he is.
August 12th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Reply to Bekke @ 4:15 pm:
Seems so simple in practice (Premier League for one)…