Pitso Mosimane still unpaid in Iran, but staying put

According to reports in Iran, Esteghlal FC had been having cash flow challenges after the former club boss failed to inject funds into the club coffers.

Tlhagale reveals that they had considered walking away from the club using the 15-day waiting window for payment, but the coaches decided to stay put.

"Up to now the coaches have still not been paid, yesterday was Wednesday, I think it was day 15 according to the FIFA law where you give a team 15 days to pay or you've got the right to terminate,” Tlhagale said.

 “I have spoken to the coaches yesterday and the decision for now is not yet to terminate, to give them more time because if you are aware the old CEO who was there when we arrived, the gentleman that I negotiated with has now moved on.

“They've got a new CEO, new chairman, so we just thought also let's give them time to settle and get in with the work and understand the dynamic of what they found. We think it's fair from that point of view." 

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Mosimane, a three-time African Champions League winner with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, has done a good job since he arrived in Iran, with the club now unbeaten in nine matches.

He could take them to the top half of the table when the league resumes next week. Tlhagale says they are baffled why their technical team has not been paid.

"Why they have not being paid? I actually don't have an answer for that. I think it's an answer that we are also looking for, to understand why there has not been payment but I think coach Pitso has done tremendously well,” she added.

“He is, if I'm not mistaken running nine games without a loss. He has as we all know as a strategist who is a turnaround football strategist, has done exactly that. I believe he will be able to turn the team around."

There have also been reports of Esteghlal FC having made payments to Mosimane’s bank account, but they are alleged to have bounced because of the international sanctions that the South African banks have imposed on Iran. It’s been said that they were contemplating paying him in cash, something Tlhagale vehemently denies.

"It will be unfortunate if we have to terminate because of non-payment because the reality is I cannot have my coaches there and not being paid.

“There is a whole notion that has been in the media that they have not been paid because of the sanctions, that means that as coach Pitso and his team's manager I don't do my work, that discussion was a clear deal breaker when I had a discussion with them that we understand they have sanctions and therefore how do they deal with that and that was a non-issue.

“When coach got there based on certain contractual agreements, they were paid. So, that for me says that payment is possible and even certain banks have confirmed that they do the transactions. So the issue of doing transactions if it has happened where they have been paid to the bank account of their choice because that's what I made sure that I put in in their contracts."