Dan Malesela responds to Baroka FC chairman’s allegations

The Limpopo outfit are currently involved in a mini-league alongside Richards Bay and AmaTuks for the lucrative DStv Premiership status, but chairman Khurishi Mphahlele earlier this week surprisingly told the coach to stay home. 

Morgan Mammila has since taken over in the interim to oversee the remaining matches in the promotion play-offs, with the owner alleging that Malesela was colluding with rival clubs to sell Baroka players. 

“He is suspended because we heard rumours that there are some club chairmen phoning him, expressing an interest in our players and he doesn’t disclose this to us,” Mphahlele explained on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with host Andile Ncube.

“We did not suspend him because he lost [against Tuks in the opening game of the play-offs on Sunday] – we are not sore losers.”

The chairman said what he’s heard about the coach warranted an internal investigation. 

When Malesela was given a right of reply, the former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns defender refuted the accusations.  

“I don’t even know the contracts of the players. This is unusual to the clubs that I have been at before – I don’t know anything,” he explained.

“I usually help the clubs when they sign players because sometimes they are overcharged because of agents. But at Baroka, I am not involved in the player’s contracts unless a player tells me.” 

The former TS Galaxy and Chippa United mentor confirmed being contacted about Baroka players, however, nothing came of it. 

“I got a text – just one text – from someone I worked for before, but I did not take it seriously. I have never spoken to anyone about any players – and I produced players for this person before, and he didn’t give me a cent,” concluded Malesela.

READ: Malesela feeling the pressure after Baroka costly mistake