Chiefs transfer matter officially ‘resolved’

Note: This is an updated Chiefs article

On Monday, word emerged that Kaizer Chiefs had reportedly been warned by FIFA that they needed to pay around R233 600 to Zimbabwe side Chicken Inn over the transfer of Teenage Hadebe.

However, Chiefs responded to say they had ‘noted’ and ‘dismissed’ the reports that were making the rounds. Hadebe signed for Kaizer Chiefs in July 2017, having previously been on trial with the club in August of 2016. He would remain with Amakhosi until 2019 – making relatively limited appearances – before heading overseas.

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Before joining Chiefs, Hadebe had played for Zimbabwe team Chicken Inn, while he left Chiefs to join Turkish team Yeni Malatyaspor, and according to FAR Post, initial indications were that this move was completed as a ‘free agent’. However, the report further stated “that it’s been unearthed that he was in fact sold to the Turkish team, for an undisclosed fee”.

However, the club moved to dismiss this allegation in a statement released on Monday evening.

Some news reports say: “Initially, indications are that Hadebe joined the Turkey club as a free agent. However, it was unearthed that the Arthur Zwane coached-side indeed sold him, albeit for an undisclosed fee.”

The Club would like to categorically dismiss the reports as flawed and misleading. Kaizer Chiefs have fulfilled all the obligations in the transfer of Hadebe.

The Zimbabwe side’s secretary-general Tavengwa Hara has now told FARPost that Amakhosi have met their obligations and that the fault did not lie with them after all.

“I can confirm that Kaizer Chiefs have fulfilled their side of the bargain. The delays were by the Turkey club. We paid each other through FIFA, so the matter is resolved,” Hara said.

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There was briefly some concern for Chiefs

It had been previously stated that FIFA Players’ Status Chamber ruled that Chiefs must pay the Zimbabwean club because he apparently “joined the Soweto giants in 2017 with a clause in his contract stating that his former club, Chicken Inn, would reap financial rewards when he is sold to another club”.

The warning from FIFA is that Chiefs must make a payment of $13000 to Chicken Inn or face the prospect of being banned from signing new players, either nationally or internationally, in three consecutive transfer windows.

“The claim of the claimant, Chicken Inn FC, is partially accepted,” IFA’s tribunal chief legal and compliance officer Emilio García Silvero said in a letter.

“The Respondent, Kaizer Chiefs Football club, has to pay to the claimant, the following amount(s): USD 13,654.11 [R234 625,95] as outstanding remuneration plus 5% interest per annum as from 7 July 2021 until the date of effective payment; USD 7,724.64 [ R132 736,66] as outstanding remuneration plus 5% interest per annum as from 16 January 2022 until the date of effective payment.

“Full payment (including all applicable interest) shall be made to the bank account indicated in the enclosed Bank Account Registration Form.”

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