Celtic seek to quash Mathoho reports
Bloemfontein Celtic have moved swiftly to quash reports defender Erick Mathoho is leaving the club for Kaizer Chiefs in the next weeks.
But a statement released by the club, and distributed by the Premier Soccer League, is at odds with Chiefs, whose football manager Bobby Motaung confirmed their negotiations, and with Mathoho, who told reporters of his planned move away from the Free State outfit.
Celtic said they were not selling the giant centre back to any fellow PSL club.
“Bloemfontein Celtic would like to set the record straight with regard to media reports that defender Erick Mathoho will be leaving the club to join Kaizer Chiefs at the end of the season,” said the statement from chief executive officer Khumbulani Konco.
“Those reports are baseless and untrue. However, we can confirm that we did receive an offer to purchase Mathoho, but we declined it. We have made ourselves clear that we were not willing to sell Mathoho to a local club but we will only consider offers from overseas clubs.”
Celtic say Mathoho has denied giving interviews about moving to Chiefs although it is common for players to claim they were not speaking to journalists when confronted by club officials when indeed they have told reporters of their plans.
