Football agent Mike Makaab has strongly rejected that the matter involving his client Andile Jali over despite the urgent sitting on Wednesday being pushed aside by the PSL.
As was revealed by iDiski Times, Jali took Moroka Swallows to the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) for not being paid and being dismissed by the club without valid reasons.
This was another matter between Jali and Swallows in what was shaping up to be another tussle after Swallows, through its own DC, dismissed Jali but his agency Prosport International legally fought the matter on his behalf.
Swallows lawyer Lerumo Thobejane, in radio interviews, said Jali will not play Swallows again because the player was one of those who were found to be at fault for December’s two matches of a no-show by Swallows against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows.
Swallows could not fulfill the two matches as players were demanding their salaries to be paid before Christmas. But Swallows chairman David Mogashoa argued it was not in the contracts of players to be paid before Christmas but instead by the end of the month.
As Jali has not been paid the salary, his handlers asked the PSL and its DRC to look at the matter in an urgent hearing but it was struck off by the PSL as not an urgent sitting, meaning it will be handled like any other matter by the PSL DRC.
“Both parties are going to win or going to lose,” said Makaab on Gagasi FM with Simtho Dladla.
“Because the truth is you never going to want this to happen in football. But let’s forget about that – what we did, the hearing was purely to determine whether the matter was of urgent basis or sat down in the normal procedural way.
“We said it is an urgent matter because it of someone’s livelihood. You can’t just dismiss someone and say it is not urgent.
“Even, if you have the right to dismiss, there is an appeal. There has got to be an urgency and appeal, we believe. But the PSL sought in a different light.
“They said it is not a matter that needs to be heard urgently and therefore you need to follow the proper process. We lost the case of trying to make it an urgent matter to resolve it immediately – the PSL sought otherwise, and we accepted the decision.
“Now we are going to apply for a date and the matter of dismissal is going to happen to be heard, it has not been heard.
“If what the media says that [Swallows lawyer Lerumo] Thobejane has said there is no way back for Andile Jali, well, we will see, that is my answer, we will see.
“I have been involved in this business for 26 years and I’m not saying I know everything, I do know the law, the law in football and we will see.”
When Makaab was asked if Jali was willing to go back, he said: “Of course, he is willing to go back. The point is the club is not willing to take him back as it stands. We understand that and again we respect the club.”
Makaab negotiated new deals with Swallows for Gregory Damons, Lantshane Phalane, Gabadinho Mhango, while Kegan Allan left to join SuperSport United, and Kagiso Malinga left to join Golden Arrows.
“The only outstanding matter is that of Andile Jali,” he added.
Makaab believes Jali was unfairly dismissed because he was injured while playing for the club.
“That is our case. How can you dismiss somebody when he isn’t available to train? And he wasn’t available to play? It’s a fact, we can prove it medically.”
Makaab said the best-case scenario is to come to a settlement between both parties involved.
