Sithole’s move on hold

be-tween the South African club and his representatives over the value of his signing-on fee.
Sources in South Africa told The Herald yesterday that Sithole – who arrived in Johannesburg yesterday morning in the company of his manager Ziyambi Ziyambi – did not sign the deal to become a Sundowns’ player.
Sithole and his manager, aided by a South African agent who was roped in to help in the negotiations, met Sundowns officials with a view to thrashing out personal terms for the players.
The South African agent is a partner of local agent Gibson Mahachi, who took Sithole for trials at modest Super Diski side Maritzburg United.
But there was a sticking point, centred on how much the striker’s representatives wanted as a signing-on fee, and the deal could not be completed.
Sithole and his manager were expected to fly back into Harare last night.
“The hurdle is the signing-on fee and there was a vast gap, in terms of what either side wanted, that there couldn’t be a conclusion of negotiations within a day,” said the sources.
“So the player is coming back to Harare and there will possibly be more negotiations in the coming days.
“But there are many strikers who are on Sundowns’ radar right now and history has shown that this is not the kind of a club that wants to be pushed into a corner and they usually look elsewhere because they have the financial muscle.
“Hopefully, this will not turn out to be a golden chance that has been blown by the youngster to take a first step into trying his luck in a foreign league.”
CAPS United and Sundowns had agreed a fee for the player and when Sithole went to South Africa yesterday, it appeared a routine move where he would negotiate his personal terms, undergo a medical and then sign to become a Brazilian.
However, the deal has since been put on hold.
Sources revealed yesterday that Sundowns officials agreed to buy Sithole because they believe he could make the same impact in Super Diski, in the long run, as Zimbabwe international striker Knowledge Musona.
The 19-year-old striker is now certain to rejoin his CAPS United teammates today as they prepare for tomorrow’s Castle Lager Premiership tie against Monomotapa at Rufaro.
Sithole struck a hat-trick, to take his goal tally to 10 in the Premiership, as CAPS United thrashed Masvingo United 4-1 at the National Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
Big goalkeeper Eddie Sibanda, back in the line-up after serving a two-match suspension following his dismissal against Highlanders, opened the scoring by converting from the spot before firing a thunderbolt, from distance, which crashed against the crossbar.
The Herald revealed yesterday that Sithole was set to seal a three-year deal to play for Sundowns yesterday.
Meanwhile, CAPS United are just two games from winning a jackpot promised by their management and the Green Machine players will be happy that their chief striker has returned in time for the Monomotapa game.
Although CAPS United officials had organised a day’s trip for Sithole to South Africa, so that he would be at training today ahead of tomorrow’s match, they had based their programme on the belief that there would be no complications to the deal.
The CAPS United leadership last week challenged their players to win their next three league matches, starting with the Yuna Yuna match and including the Harare Derby against Dynamos, to receive full winning bonuses for the four matches they have lost so far this season.
Makepekepe beat Masvingo United on Wednesday and they face Monoz tomorrow before returning to the National Sports Stadium next Sunday for the Harare Derby.
The Green Machine have lost four of their 11 Premiership matches to date, going down to Motor Action, Blue Ribbon, Highlanders and Hwange.
CAPS United do not pay their players when they lose while there are bonuses for a draw and a victory.
The winning bonus, which is uniform among all the players, is currently pegged at around US$150 although every player has a different salary depending on his contract and value to the Green Machine.
The four losses, in the league this year, mean CAPS United players have so far lost about US$600 each in potential earnings.
Now CAPS United, having scored nine goals and conceded only two in winning against Kiglon and Masvingo United, have two games to win and collect the jackpot.