JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has confirmed that Godfrey Walusimbi, the subject of accusations that Amakhosi are guilty of player tapping, is indeed in Naturena to negotiate a deal to join the Glamour Boys.
But Motaung was quick to refute reports that the South African giants are trying to lure the Ugandan defender away from his Kenyan club Gor Mahia without their permission.
Tapping is illegal according to Fifa rules.
The news spread at the weekend that Walusimbi, who can play as a fullback or central defender, had gone AWOL and taken a flight to South Africa to meet with Chiefs officials over joining them before the close of the transfer window on August 31.
The Gor Mahia chairman even claimed in a statement that his Amakhosi counterpart had phoned him to apologise for getting off on the wrong foot.
“It’s unfortunate that a player can just decide on his own to travel to engage another club without our knowledge. “I got an alert from someone that he was travelling, and the next thing was a call from the Kaizer Chiefs chairman apologising for that step, and requesting if we could talk on a possible move,” the statement from two days ago read.
“I declined to discuss anything and told Chiefs’ chairman I will hold a meeting with my EC (executive committee). Then we will know what step to take.”
Breaking Chiefs’ silence on the matter, Motaung said the Amakhosi were following protocol in trying to sign Walusimbi.
“He is here at the village (club headquarters), and we are going about things the right way. We will make further announcements when we have agreed a deal with his club.
“But the player has not gone missing from his club. Maybe there was some confusion as the coach (Dylan Kerr) obviously wants to keep the player,” Motaung explained.
Walusimbi still has at least a year remaining on his contract with Gor Mahia, according to reports in Kenya, and has been valued at R3 million.
Chiefs were last month accused of signing a player that is still under contract by Fosa Juniors, a club from Madagascar.
Andriamirado “Dax” Andrianarimanana denied being their player, while Fosa were adamant he was contracted until 2020.
This issue has since been resolved, and “Dax” is waiting for his work permit to begin life in the Premier Soccer League with Amakhosi.