After parting ways with Sekhukhune United last season, Edwin Gyimah was on the brink of securing a deal with Magesi FC recently. However, the move fell through, with Gyimah claiming the club failed to present a convincing contract for him.
The seasoned defender, who has been clubless for over a year, expressed disappointment over the negotiations.
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Gyimah, speaking to Soccer Laduma, painted a different narrative from previous reports which criticised how the player suddenly didn't sign for Magesi when it seemed he was about to do so.After the Siya crew reached out to Gyimah, the Ghanaian painted a different picture about the turn of events at the Limpopo outfit.
"I see what's being said, but I think what happened is the opposite. The story is different, completely. I was in Ghana and Rush (Mulovhedzi) called me to say that Magesi wanted me, and I had no problem with that. I said I would play for them, because they are a club that has already won a cup. For them to finish in a good position when the league ends, it will be good. Rush told me that the club wanted to sign me for six months until the end of the season, and I was fine with that. But already I know how Polokwane is, the terrain, having been to Black Leopards I know the situation and all that. I spoke with my wife to budget for it all. I met the club, and we spoke about the money and everything," said Gyimah."
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"I was supposed to have arrived in South Africa on the 23rd of January, and I was meant to be in Polokwane the next Tuesday. But Rush rushed me because he said the club wanted me as soon as possible, and I ended up going there a day early, on the Monday. On my arrival there, I had one training with the team on Tuesday and after finishing training I learnt that Rush had travelled to Jo'burg. When I enquired about the contract that I was meant to sign, he told me that the team manager had gone to attend a funeral. Because I have been without a salary for so long, everything I have been doing involved a lot of budgeting, I decided to leave. I left because I was avoiding staying there and spending money, because in my situation I would rather spend whatever money I have with my wife and family. Still at that point, I was very much interested in signing and playing for Magesi but the contract was not forthcoming. In the end when it did eventually come, it was empty with only the club's rules and things like that without any figures. My wife knows this because the guy was also communicating with her throughout the process. Now this whole thing is painting me like someone who is a bad guy, and they are the victims. But I don't understand why, because I showed so much interest in playing for the club," concluded Gyimah.
Providing a different perspective, according to football agent Ratshibvumo Mulovhedzi, the breakdown in negotiations was allegedly due to Gyimah's actions. Mulovhedzi claimed that despite initial verbal agreements and positive assessments, Gyimah left Polokwane without notifying the club, causing confusion for Magesi FC.
Mulovhedzi claimed that he convinced Magesi to offer a contract, believing Gyimah's addition could aid their league struggles. However, after Gyimah received the contract, which he initially seemed pleased with according to the agent, he then requested changes, further complicating the negotiation process. Mulovhedzi was disappointed with the player's departure without communication and his subsequent media comments.
One can read the agent's interview with Soccer Laduma here.
Despite these issues, Mulovhedzi acknowledged the situation's complexity. Soccer Laduma reached out to Magesi FC to comment on the situation but the club had not responded by the time this report was published.
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By Masebe Qina
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