FUSA prepared to go to war with PSL club

The players' union, FUSA, accuses Motsepe Foundation Championship club Baroka FC of demonstrating a blatant disregard for their players' rights and dignity. On Sunday, Bakgaga was back to winning ways following their 3-1 victory over fellow former top-tier club Cape Town City. This was only their second win of the season. They remain at the bottom of the table with 7 points in 10 matches. READ | Another PSL club makes technical team changes "After their loss to Upington City FC last week, Mr. Khurishi Mphahlele called everyone into a meeting, and he told them he will be deducting 35% of their salaries if they were to lose to Cape Town City," FUSA secretary Taelo Motloung tells KickOff. "What is shocking is, that thing is not in the players' contracts. He even gave them letters claiming they are addenda to the contracts. But how can you make another contract if there is an existing one in place? "He threatened to release some of the players to the club's ABC Motsepe League team that plays somewhere obhuqwini. He told them some of them will become coaches and some will be players there at that ABC Motsepe League team where they will be fighting for their positions. "As FUSA, we feel that is total disrespect to our football, but some of those players did not sign those papers. Those who did not sign the papers are the ones he told to go to the ABC Motsepe League. There's players who have already been told to report there, which is not correct because if you go to the ABC Motsepe League, it means you must register, meaning you are terminating your PSL contract. "The way you shake a player's hand when you sign him or negotiate, should be the same way you shake his hand when you release him. I don't know why these players always want to make players feel small or useless. Where is professionalism in that? "The problem with our club chairmen is they deal with matters of football with emotions and egos. But as FUSA, we are waiting to see what is going to happen. We are ready. "The Football Union of South Africa (FUSA) strongly condemns Baroka FC's actions, which demonstrate a blatant disregard for players' rights and dignity. Forcing players to sign letters threatening salary deductions, relocating them to unfamiliar environments, and imposing restrictive conditions is unacceptable and unprofessional. "FUSA supports the players who bravely stood up for their rights and refused to sign the addendum letters. Such practices are a clear exploitation of power and undermine the very fabric of our sport. "We urge Baroka FC to reconsider their approach and prioritize respectful, fair treatment of players. Clubs driven by emotions and egos, rather than professionalism and empathy, risk damaging the sport and harming those who make it great. READ | PSL club chairman: We're spending more money in this league "FUSA will continue to advocate for players' rights and ensure that our football is played with dignity and respect for all involved." Contacted for his side of the story, Baroka FC chairman Khurishi Mphahlele said: "I'm fighting poor performance nothing personal, nothing more. Everybody knows Baroka is performing bad. We are now number 16. Everybody in our position can do this. We can't just act normal when we are sitting at number 16 just because there is a union. If a union is encouraging the boys not to perform, then that's very, very bad. I'm not firing anybody, but I must have a mechanism of solving our problems. It's internal matters." Mphahlele says. Photo by Kabelo Leputu/Gallo Images