Agents just in it for the money: Motaung

Football agents took another hit on Tuesday when Chiefs supremo Kaizer Motaung once again blamed them for destabilising his ship.

The Amakhosi chairman confirmed the departure of three key players — goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune‚ defender Tefu Mashamaite and winger Mandla Masango — but claimed it wasn’t for the lack of trying from his son and team manager‚ Bobby.

He said talks with the trio over new contracts had broken down after it became clear their representatives were intent on exorbitant deals for their clients and the commissions that accompany them.

“It is necessary for players to have someone offering them advice and managing their careers‚ but I think some of these agents are using this as a money-making exercise‚” Motaung explained.

“You only see them when you sign a new contract and when it is time to renew it.

“We negotiated in good faith all along‚ but there were too many counteroffers and that is when we could see it was all about the money.”

Motaung also implied the new rules on commissions earned by agents‚ reducing their cut from 10% to 3% as of April 1‚ influenced negotiations.

“There was a delay in Mashamaite signing the contract because his agent kept coming back with a counteroffer.

“So you can clearly see that the agents pulled the plug. It appears this was all about the money and not integrity‚ especially since the 3% rule came into effect‚” said Motaung. “It wasn’t until Monday that the agent said ‘we are not moving’.”

Only Jazzman Mahlakgane‚ who represents Mashamaite and also looked after Khune’s interest before the Bafana keeper dumped him for UK-based Daniel Lichman‚ reacted to the Chiefs chairman taking him to task on Tuesday.

Mahlakgane was unwilling to discuss the Chiefs captain’s future‚ adding that neither he nor his client were greedy as Motaung seemed to suggest.

A statement from Lichman on Khune’s future is expected this week‚ while Walter Mokoena‚ who represents Masango‚ could not be reached.

Asked if he’d intervened to help the club keep Khune‚ who joined the Glamour Boys aged 13‚ Motaung said he hadn’t spoken to the 27-year-old about his future since December.

“The contract issue was addressed a year ago. I personally have not spoken to him about it in the last six months‚ but it became clear that‚ through his agent who is not even in the country‚ Khune was holding us at ransom.

“That is when we thought it was best he be allowed to see his way forward‚” Motaung explained.