In this edition of Secret Footballer, a former Premier Soccer League goalkeeper shares a letter of grievances he gave to a club Chief Executive Officer after being unfairly dismissed by his former employers.
"There's a lot to talk about. Would you like me to start with how I was forcibly thrown out of their training base by security after having done nothing wrong?" our Secret Footballer tells KickOff.
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"They forced me to train with the Diski team, refused to communicate with me regarding the reasons why, and wouldn't allow me to follow the club handbook to speak to my direct line manager, the football manager, as stated in their handbook. They also turned down my requests for a meeting.
"A club CEO told me I had only 15 minutes to leave the property where I was staying, or he would call security on me. He did this even though my contract stated that I had a right to stay there, provided I paid for maintenance costs, which were around R2000 a month. I told him I was more than happy to pay upfront until the end of the season, but he insisted I had to leave immediately.
"I explained to him that I wouldn't be able to find alternative accommodation, as I thought I might be leaving in January. I informed them that the club needed to arrange a place for me because I wasn't going to pay for a hotel. Two security guards then came and told me to grab my belongings."
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"Dear Mr. CEO,
It is both my belief and my representative's belief that the actions of the club have placed me, as a player, in an unfair and arduous situation due to the actions carried out by the Head Coach and yourself as CEO.
I would also like to express my dismay at having to write this to you personally, as I feel this is an undue process according to your company handbook. According to paragraphs 127 and 127.1, the first stage of the grievance process should involve a sit-down meeting with the Head Coach, as I am still a contracted player.
In response to your document, which I received via WhatsApp and email, I am outlining the issues I feel I am being unduly persecuted over:
1. Ever since I was informed that I would be training with the Diski team, I have not been allowed to discuss the reasons with the Head Coach. I have seen a document stating that I am 'the main reason for the club's current position in the league table.' I would like to clarify that when I was available for selection after five games in the PSL, the club was already at the bottom of the table.
2. Since I began training with the Diski team, I have felt uneasy about greeting members of the technical team, as my greetings have been met with hostility.
3. I have been obliged to train first with the Diski team and then at 7 AM when no members of the first team or technical staff are present, only to return for training at 5 PM with the Diski squad. These constant changes in the training program and being forced to train alone do not provide me with consistent training.
4. At no point have I shirked my obligations; I have arrived on time and performed for each session I was required to attend.
5. From the moment I began training with the Diski team until the week commencing 05/12/2023, I have had no access to a goalkeeping coach.
6. I have now also been informed that I am no longer permitted to use the first team dressing room or the club's gym facilities. This has been the tipping point; how am I supposed to continue with my gym program mandated by the club?
7. I have been repeatedly told to keep a low profile by members of the technical staff, including the club CEO. This insinuates that I am viewed as a 'bad apple' within the group, which could not be further from the truth. I am simply seeking an adequate explanation regarding my treatment.
8. For a sustained period of around six weeks, I have given up my own time to coach two young Diski goalkeepers and have assessed triallists for the under-16 age group.
9. The reported removal of myself from the first team squad was leaked by someone at the club only four hours after meeting with club officials. I am unsure how this is acceptable.
10. Following point 9, another article was released regarding the club negotiating my settlement in early December, as quoted by the Coach. My agent has called and emailed on numerous occasions to negotiate this settlement, but the calls have gone unanswered.
11. I have been told multiple times to arrive at different times for sessions, only to find no coaches present at the training ground to supervise those sessions. How can a player be asked to arrive and complete a session without coaching oversight?"