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Bloemfontein - Springbok Sevens player Lionel Mapoe has lost his bid to be released from his contract at the Free State Cheetahs.
Mapoe must now arrive in Bloemfontein by Thursday and present himself at the regular Cheetahs practice session, where he is likely to meet with the team management to plot the way forward after a contractual dispute that has lasted for months now.
Mapoe cited problems with his salary as the reason he wanted to leave, and requested, through his agent, Jan-Harm van Wyk a release certificate from the Cheetahs so that he could take up a more lucrative offer from the Sharks.
Mapoe even went as far as to start training with the Sharks for the past few months pending the outcome of the dispute, which was finally handed down on Wednesday.
Advocate Bertus van Rhyn ruled that the Cheetahs have a valid contract with the winger, and that he will have to return to Bloemfontein to play as stated in his contract.
Free State president Harold Verster said he was overjoyed by the result.
“It is great that the arbitration process proved what we knew all along, that we have a valid contract with Lionel,” Verster said.
“He now needs to get back to Bloemfontein today or tomorrow and rejoin the team. He needs to get his head right and play.”
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske also was happy with the result.
“It hopefully sends out a strong message to players that they need to honour their contracts, but we are very happy that we were right all along and that we had a valid contract with him,” Drotske added.
The Sharks weren’t available for comment.
Bloemfontein - Springbok Sevens player Lionel Mapoe has lost his bid to be released from his contract at the Free State Cheetahs.
Mapoe must now arrive in Bloemfontein by Thursday and present himself at the regular Cheetahs practice session, where he is likely to meet with the team management to plot the way forward after a contractual dispute that has lasted for months now.
Mapoe cited problems with his salary as the reason he wanted to leave, and requested, through his agent, Jan-Harm van Wyk a release certificate from the Cheetahs so that he could take up a more lucrative offer from the Sharks.
Mapoe even went as far as to start training with the Sharks for the past few months pending the outcome of the dispute, which was finally handed down on Wednesday.
Advocate Bertus van Rhyn ruled that the Cheetahs have a valid contract with the winger, and that he will have to return to Bloemfontein to play as stated in his contract.
Free State president Harold Verster said he was overjoyed by the result.
“It is great that the arbitration process proved what we knew all along, that we have a valid contract with Lionel,” Verster said.
“He now needs to get back to Bloemfontein today or tomorrow and rejoin the team. He needs to get his head right and play.”
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske also was happy with the result.
“It hopefully sends out a strong message to players that they need to honour their contracts, but we are very happy that we were right all along and that we had a valid contract with him,” Drotske added.
The Sharks weren’t available for comment.
