The players of the Pride of Giyani, Dynamos, are outraged with the team’s managing director, Mr Pat Malabela. They allege that Mabela has sold the team without their knowledge.

According to the players, Malabela called them one by one to the club’s office in Polokwane last Thursday and told them that he had sold the team to the owners of the First Division side, Zulu Royals.

Mpho Maleka, who scored ten goals for Dynamos last season, could not hide his anger in a telephonic interview with Mirror. He said Malabela has betrayed the players, saying Malabela had been aware of the fact that he was going to sell the franchise some weeks ago. Maleka said that he had received some attractive offers from a number of the Gauteng-based PSL clubs, including Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates.

The team’s captain, Gerald Mtshali, said that he was the first to be called by Malabela and that it was a shock for him when Malabela told him that he had finally taken the R30 million offer from Zulu Royals. He revealed that Malabela asked him whether he would be interested in going to KwaZulu Natal with the club. Mtshali said he told Malabela that he needed time to make up his mind.

The central defender, Irvin Zwane, said that he was ready to relocate with the club as long as his salary would be protected.

Other players, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Malabela should have told them of his intention to sell the franchise long ago, so that they could have enough time to search for greener pastures.

Most of the players said that they will not honour the Limpopo Soccer Challenge that will be staged at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane tomorrow. Four teams, Kaizer Chiefs, Black Leopards, Dynamos and Costa do Sol from Mozambique will partake in the tournament.

According to the programme, Dynamos will meet Costa do Sol in the opening fixture at 10:00. Black Leopards and Kaizer Chiefs will follow at 12:00. The winners in the two matches will meet in the final later in the afternoon to determine the champions.

In response to the accusation by the players, Malabela said that it was premature for him to say that he had sold the team, saying the only time when he would go public about the deal was when the money had been deposited into his bank account.