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Johannesburg - January is a time for forward planning for clubs and players alike. This transfer window, when players can sign pre-contracts with new clubs as they seek to secure their futures, is a good reminder of the famous Bosman ruling.
Ever since the Bosman ruling came into effect, players have been allowed to leave their previous club without a transfer fee at the end of a contract, and have been allowed to sign a pre-contract with another club six months before the end of their current contract. The pre-contract ensures that the new club signs a player on for free before other clubs step in to try to convince the player to join them instead.
The dawn of each new year sees clubs fretting over players who might leave for free.
January is not only all about big sales or spending big money, it is also a time when talent can be picked up for free as players start to run down their contracts.
This period poses headaches for clubs, which have some tough decisions to make – either they cash in on players whose contracts are coming to an end in June or risk losing them for free. Club bosses will be spending their Christmas break pondering the future of some of their players, and players will be thinking about the same thing.
From next week, many players will be entering the final six months of their deals, meaning they can sign pre-contract agreements to secure lucrative moves before the summer.
Kaizer Chiefs risk losing number two goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo, who is fed up with playing second fiddle to Itumeleng Khune. According to Khuzwayo’s agent, Tim Sukazi, there are already a few contacts for the keeper to consider.
“Yes, it is true that he is a wanted man. But we cannot start negotiations until he gets to the last six months of his contract,” said the QT Sports chief executive.
He said Khuzwayo hoped to play for Bafana Bafana, but it was going to be difficult while he was still deputising to Khune.
“He is Bafana material and wants to play regularly so he can go back to the national team. He is not an understudy.”
He said the Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Thabo Nthethe and Asavela Mbekile were also looking to move away from the Absa Premiership log leaders.
“You can’t fault Sundowns because they are playing well and are on top of the log at the moment.”
Another player who could leave Sundowns is defender Tebogo Langerman, who is also entering the last six months of his contract.
Fresh from winning the Telkom Knockout trophy for Bidvest Wits, Vincent Pule could also sign a pre-contract, according to Sukazi. But he conceded that Wits might be reluctant to let him go after recent improvements in his game.
January is a time for forward planning for clubs and players alike. This transfer window, when players can sign pre-contracts with new clubs as they seek to secure their futures, is a good reminder of the famous Bosman ruling.
Ever since the Bosman ruling came into effect, players have been allowed to leave their previous club without a transfer fee at the end of a contract, and have been allowed to sign a pre-contract with another club six months before the end of their current contract. The pre-contract ensures that the new club signs a player on for free before other clubs step in to try to convince the player to join them instead.
The dawn of each new year sees clubs fretting over players who might leave for free.
January is not only all about big sales or spending big money, it is also a time when talent can be picked up for free as players start to run down their contracts.
This period poses headaches for clubs, which have some tough decisions to make – either they cash in on players whose contracts are coming to an end in June or risk losing them for free. Club bosses will be spending their Christmas break pondering the future of some of their players, and players will be thinking about the same thing.
From next week, many players will be entering the final six months of their deals, meaning they can sign pre-contract agreements to secure lucrative moves before the summer.
Kaizer Chiefs risk losing number two goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo, who is fed up with playing second fiddle to Itumeleng Khune. According to Khuzwayo’s agent, Tim Sukazi, there are already a few contacts for the keeper to consider.
“Yes, it is true that he is a wanted man. But we cannot start negotiations until he gets to the last six months of his contract,” said the QT Sports chief executive.
He said Khuzwayo hoped to play for Bafana Bafana, but it was going to be difficult while he was still deputising to Khune.
“He is Bafana material and wants to play regularly so he can go back to the national team. He is not an understudy.”
He said the Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Thabo Nthethe and Asavela Mbekile were also looking to move away from the Absa Premiership log leaders.
“You can’t fault Sundowns because they are playing well and are on top of the log at the moment.”
Another player who could leave Sundowns is defender Tebogo Langerman, who is also entering the last six months of his contract.
Fresh from winning the Telkom Knockout trophy for Bidvest Wits, Vincent Pule could also sign a pre-contract, according to Sukazi. But he conceded that Wits might be reluctant to let him go after recent improvements in his game.
