FUSA Slams PSL Over Leruma United Dispute, Demands Players Be Paid

The Football Union of South Africa (FUSA) has taken a firm stance against the Premier Soccer League (PSL), accusing the league of sidestepping its own rules in the ongoing dispute involving relegated Motsepe Foundation Championship side Leruma United FC.

At the centre of the controversy is a ruling made by the PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) in 2024, which ordered the former owners of Marumo Gallants FC to pay bonuses owed to players from their 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup campaign. After Leruma United bought the Motsepe Foundation Championship status from Marumo Gallants, FUSA believes the new owners should also assume all financial liabilities, including unpaid bonuses.

FUSA secretary Taelo Motloung told KickOff that the union is bewildered by the PSL’s opposition to their application seeking to withhold Leruma’s remaining grant funds until outstanding player payments are made.

“FUSA finds it perplexing that the PSL intends to oppose our application to uphold the remaining Leruma FC grant until players’ outstanding salaries are settled,” Motloung said. “Given the National Dispute Resolution Chamber’s award instructing the club to pay within 10 days, which they failed to comply with, it’s unclear why the PSL would object to enforcing this order.”

Among the players still waiting to be paid are Lucky Mohomi, Mahlatse Makudubela, Letsie Koape, Mpho Mvelase, Katlego Otladisa, Ayanda Nkili, Celimpilo Ngema, Thabo Khiba, Ranga Chivaviro, Lesiba Nku, and Tshepo Gumede. Each is reportedly owed R141,037.77.

Motloung emphasized that deducting from the club’s grant is not only justified but has precedent in South African football.

“The NDRC’s decision is binding, and deducting from the grant is a necessary measure to ensure players receive their owed monies,” he said. “With the club relegated, utilizing the remaining grant for this purpose is logical. This approach has precedent, as seen in the case of Polokwane City Rovers, where their grant was withheld until outstanding cases were resolved and players received their due payments.”

FUSA has called on the PSL to reconsider its position and act in the best interests of players who have waited months to be compensated for their contributions during Gallants’ 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup run.

“The PSL must prioritize fairness and accountability. These players honored their contracts and deserve to be paid. Footballers are not disposable once clubs change hands or drop out of the league,” Motloung concluded.

As the tension builds between FUSA and the PSL, the football community will be watching closely to see whether justice will prevail for the affected players.