IT MAY seem a bizarre decision, but Papi Zothwane is refusing to budge from Mamelodi Sundowns though he has been told he does not feature in coach Johan Neeskens's plans.

The midfielder has even declined a transfer to Bloemfontein Celtic, preferring to sit idle and keep drawing a huge salary from the big-spending club.

Zothwane dug in his heels until the transfer window period shut at 5pm on Wednesday. The next transfer window will be in January.

According to Zothwane's manager Glynn Binkin the player is tied to the Brazilians until the end of the 2012 season.

"They can't kick him out," he said.

"If nothing happens, he will have to take the risk and sit out the rest of his contract. I am aware that the coach does not want him.

"He got injured while training with the team but he has two weeks to get fit."

The former Lamontville Golden Arrows player played a mere 10 games last season and looks set for another miserable season.

Another former Sundowns player, Vuyo Mere, turned up for training with Platinum Stars in a bid to find a job on Tuesday but could not make the grade.

Mere, who became surplus to requirements at Chloorkop, was loaned to Moroka Swallows until the end of last season. He has since been declared a free agent.

The Birds were keen to retain his services but it appears he had other plans about his future in the game.

"Mere left us at the end of the season and never came back," said Birds assistant coach Zeca Marques.