Wits buy out Gaba’s contract, loan Phiri Jnr to Botswana club

Flames striker Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango on Tuesday breathed a sigh of relief after his prospective South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Bidvest Wits negotiated to buy out the remaining period of his contract from his former employers, Bloemfontein Celtic.

Gabadinho risked being reduced to a sideshow for the next six months following Celtic’s move to release him before the expiry of his contract. This was in reaction to the player’s move to sign a pre-contract with Wits.

However, the striker told The Nation in an interview from Johannesburg yesterday that Wits successfully negotiated to buy out the remaining period of his contract.

But there is a possibility that Wits will loan him out to another PSL side Golden Arrows as their foreign quota is currently full.

“I have just been informed by my manager that Wits have successfully negotiated to buy the remaining period of my contract.

“So, I am no longer a Celtic player and the development comes as a big relief because I was worried about the prospects of staying six months without playing.

“However, further to that, I might be loaned out to Arrows as Wits’ foreign quota is full for now,” explained Gabadinho.

Celtic’s team manager John Maduka could not be reached for comment.

But last week, the club stated that it was stunned to learn about the player’s pre-contract signing with Wits after having numerous discussions with him and his agent for more than a year.

However, Gabadinho dismissed Celtic assertions, saying the club had been dilly-dallying to offer him a new deal because of his lengthy injury.

“The club refused to offer me a new contract because officials said I was injured and asked me to wait until I have recovered. I felt this was an insult because it showed that my injury rendered me useless and not worth a new contract,” he said.

The statement further said the club released him immediately because it felt that the former Big Bullets forward would not be committed during the remaining six months of his career.

Meanwhile, Wits has agreed to loan out another Malawian player Gerald Phiri Jnr to top Botswana club Township Rollers, his manager Paul Mitchel confirmed yesterday from Johannesburg.

Phiri has not played competitive club football since signing for Wits in July last year as he awaits his work permit.

“He will be loaned out until May when his contract permit is expected to be ready,” said Mitchel.

Should Gabadinho and Phiri’s loan moves materialise, they will provide Flames coach Ernest Mtawali some relief as he was worried about their fitness due to lack of game time.