PSL
Wits deny R70m transfer kitty
2012-06-21 13:17
Johannesburg - Wits have rubbished reports claiming they have been given
R70 million to turn the club into a title-challenging outfit, but insist
they do have plenty of money to splash in the transfer window.
The Students finished the recently concluded PSL season in 12th
place, eight points behind the final MTN 8 qualifying position and six
points above the relegation zone.
Reports this week claimed the Clever Boys had been handed a huge
financial injection in order to attract some of South Africa's top
players, but new chief executive officer Jose Ferreira says there is no
truth to those rumours.
"Let's say we have a budget that allows us to be competitive," he told The Sowetan.
"Obviously we will never be able to compete in the marketplace
with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns
but you don't need to have that sort of money to be successful, as other
clubs have proven."
Wits have already secured the services of Matthew Pattison during
the off-season, while the club are also working on a deal for Aaron
Mokoena, who is waiting on Portsmouth to release him from his contract
in England.
Roger Da Sa's team also expected to make three more signings by
the end of the week, but Ferreira, who joined Wits from SuperSport
United, says they will be searching for quality and not quantity when it
comes to new signings.
"We will identify quality when it becomes available and we are on the lookout continually," he said.