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Cape Town - Take the matter to be adjudicated by the PSL's Disciplinary Chamber, says League media manager Luxolo September as a growing controversy erupted over the past week following claims initially of the non-payment of players by the legendary Jomo Sono's Jomo Cosmos National First Division club.
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"This kind of matter falls under the aegis of the Disciplinary Chamber," said September, "and should be the route for players who have financial disputes with their clubs to follow in the first instance.
"We recognise the Players Union have a role in such matters and the right of players, like anyone else for that matter, to take legal action," added the PSL Media Manager, "but a ruling of the Disciplinary Chamber is the initial channel for a solution."
What has brought the matter of non-payment of players in the PSL into glaring focus was an interview on SABC Radio with presenter Robert Murawa in which Zambian star Clifford Mulenga claimed Sono had continuously failed to make good the conditions of his contract.
What is more, Mulenga claimed Sono had repeatedly lied about when outstanding payments would be made and emphasised that numerous players were struggling to fulfil their basic living requirements as a result of non-payment of their salaries.
Sono has since confirmed the club had financial problems, which he blamed on the "substantial contracts the club signed on the basis that Cosmos were promoted back to the Premier League" - with the players salaries in a number of instances commensurate with Premier League status.
"Because promotion was not achieved," added Sono, "Cosmos has unfortunately found itself with certain financial difficulties."
But Sono disputed Mulenga's allegation that he was insensitive and arrogant regarding the non-payment of some of his players. "I was a player myself," added the renowned former star who was nicknamed The Black Prince. "I can sympathise with the players in question in this unfortunate situation."
But South African Football Players Union president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe disputed that Sono had co-operated fully in solving the impasse - and had evaded meetings designed to find a solution to the payment crisis.
And since then, a number of players from other PSL NFD clubs, as well as the Premier League's Chippa United, have come forth like a growing disease to emphasise their critical non-payment situations.
