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Cape Town - Free State Stars coach Luc Eymael says he allowed Edward Manqele to join Chippa United for free due to 'private and financial issues' the striker was facing.
The Chilli Boys have yet to confirm Manqele's arrival, but according to Eymael, he was supposed to be heading to the Port Elizabeth-based club for a second stint.
His last stay at Stars, also his second at the club, lasted just five months during which time he scored three league goals in nine matches.
Eymael says that when Manqele approached him at the start of the month about moving to Chippa, he had initially hoped to cash in on the ex-Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns marksman.
But having taken the player's personal issues into account, he allowed him to leave on a free transfer.
"[Mohammed] Anas and Manqele came to us," Eymael told KickOff. "Anas told us he was contacted by Wits directly before the Wits game [on 5 January], while on the same day, Manqele told us he was contacted by Chippa.
"I asked him if he was sure, and he told me, 'Yes, coach, please let me go'. He said he was struggling financially, and had some private issues, and said Chippa were offering a better contract. We called Chippa, who said they were interested, but wanted him for free.
"We didn't want to let him go for free but after some time I saw his spirit wasn't there, and I told my boss it's better to let him go because we need players who are focused on what they are trying to do here.
"If a player has private or financial issues, it's better to let him go, as we'd be helping him. So we called him in and told him it was okay, and that we'd let him go for free to Chippa, no problem. And in two minutes, he had signed."
The Belgian is, however, unhappy that he never received any kind of thanks from Manqele.
"He didn't say thank you or anything. When I arrived, he was very, very big, and he lost more than 20kg with me. He's never been this thin as he's been with me," Eymael added.
"Unfortunately he didn't say thank you or anything, and now he's signed, but now I didn't know what is happening with Chippa - they are waiting, but I'm not sure for what."
