SA club can’t ‘afford’ to keep Ng’ambi
South African club Platinum Stars says it cannot afford to keep a number of its top players, including Malawian midfielder Robert Ng’ambi, following its relegation from the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
A South African online publication www.kickoff.com reported at the weekend that a number of players are expected to leave Platinum Stars following their relegation to the National First Division (NFD).
“A number of players are on big contracts at Dikwena and will have to be [released] to balance the books,” Kick-Off quoted one of the club’s officials.
It stated that apart from Ng’ambi, other players who are expected to leave the club are Dino Visser, Lehlogonolo Masalesa, Raymond Monama, Luvolwetu Mpeta, Ryan de Jongh and Enocent Mkhabela.
There is also the possibility that the club could relocate to Cape Town.
However, Ng’ambi on Sunday said he is yet to decide on his future with Dikwena.
“There are one or two things that I am working on first,” he said.
Following their relegation, Stars will now be getting R350 000 (about K19.4 million) monthly grant which is four times less than the R1.5 million (about K83.5 million) they were getting in the top-flight PSL.
Stars were given a second chance in the relegation/promotion play-offs, but they failed to use it as Black Leopards booked themselves a place in the PSL for next season.
