SSHHH... It's a secret!
What do the soccer top brass have to hide?
IT'LL CAUSE PROBLEMS: Bobby Motaung. Picture by Gallo Images
No, no, no: Walter Mokoena. Picture by Elvis NtombelaIf you listen to local football bosses, you're left in no doubt that they want the domestic game to compare favourably with its overseas equivalent.
Everything, it appears, can be world class - as long as it doesn't involve disclosing players' salaries, as is done overseas.
What do the soccer top brass have to hide?
The fact that some of them pay their athletes pitiable salaries, as Moroka Swallows did with Lungisani Ndlela before this daylight robbery was exposed?
"It happens in Europe, too," many of them are quick to say. Hiding behind confidentiality clauses, soccer authorities are quick to advance shallow defences when they try to make a case for keeping their players' earnings top secret.
The first thing you'll have known about Samuel Eto'o's move from Italy to Russia was that he was going to be the highest paid player in the history of world soccer.
If it is the aim of the local game to produce more Eto'os, why should the affairs of our players be handled differently?
- Soccer business manager Tim Sukazi of Quality Talent Sport believes disclosing players' salaries would add an interesting dimension to our game.
Sukazi, who earlier dismissed rumours that his charge Elias Pelembe had signed a new deal that sees him taking home R480000 a month, says the disclosure of players' salaries has left a big question mark in the minds of football lovers.
"But from a players representative point of view, we are prohibited from disclosing football players' salaries due to confidentiality undertaking that we and our players are bound by when we conclude a deal," he says.
"But I am delighted to say bring it on.
"Let the public be informed about remuneration in our football.
"We all believe we are benchmarking our football standards with those of European counterparts. Top earning football players earn more than top earning rugby and cricket players."
- Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung says the disclosure of players salaries to the public could pose problems for players.
"It could put them on the spot and destabilise the team," says Motaung.
"It would pose a danger to the players from supporters, especially if he doesn't perform well in the field of play.
"That is why sometimes we need to protect them.
"In Europe players aren't judged on the money they earn."
- Players manager Walter Mokoena, who lives in France, says disclosing salaries would be asking for trouble.
"Footballers are entertainers, just like actors, DJs and musicians.
"Surely they wouldn't feel comfortable if their salaries were disclosed?
"I find it quite strange how these figures get to the public domain because they are confidential," he says.
"Some agents do it when they want to push the deal they want for their players. The media then picks up those figures, even if they aren't correct and spreads wrong information to the public."
- South African Players Union spokesperson Cappy Matutoane says disclosing players' salaries would have advantages and disadvantages.
"Revealing can only help to expose clubs who pay their players pathetic salaries," says Matutoane.
"Players have the right to tell the world about their earnings.
"We still have professional players who earn a monthly salary of R7000."
marastiki
I just think FIFA must impose a a law that the salaries must be made known, why hide them?
