Orlando Pirates fans have expressed their shock after long-serving Thabo Matlaba was released from the club on Friday after refusing to take a pay cut.
The 31-year-old Matlaba, who has also captained the Buccaneers, didn’t get much game time last season despite his team campaigning in the Caf Champions League as well.
The fullback, who is capable of playing on the left and right, made just seven appearances in the Premiership, where Pirates finished second to Mamelodi Sundowns by just two points on the final day.
The Soweto giants explained in a statement on their website on Friday that the former Bafana Bafana defender was offered a reduced salary by chairman Irvin Khoza, as he was not “not playing regularly”.
“Dr Khoza confirmed to Thabo that his contract of employment was expiring at the end of June 2019 and asked Thabo to please come back to Dr Khoza on Thursday with a proposal of his package for a new contract,” the statement read.
“On Thursday 20th June 2019, Thabo Matlaba met with Dr Khoza as agreed. At this meeting (which was also attended by the Financial Manager), Thabo explained his personal situation and advised that he is not able to reduce from the current package that he is on.
“Dr Khoza explained to Thabo that the Club is not in a position to pay high salaries to players who are not playing regularly.
“Normally, Dr Khoza would release these players at the end of the players’ contract.
“But in Thabo’s case, as he has a special place for Thabo, and also because Thabo has served the club so professionally and led by example as a captain over the past 7 years, he has not done this and has specifically asked the player for his input.
“Thabo confirmed that he is not able to take a reduction, and requested the Club to issue him with a clearance so that he can be released from the Club to find a better offer somewhere else.
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— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates)
“Thabo came to the office today to finalise all paperwork with regard to his exit interview from the club, and that he will be paid all monies owed to him, including his long-service bonus, in terms of his current employment contract.”
Matlaba is one of a number of players who have left Pirates recently, with the likes of Abbubaker Mobara, Thabo Qalinge, Jackson Mabokgwane and Ayanda Nkosi also released this week.
Mobara has since joined Cape Town City.
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