BLACK LEOPARDS boss, David Thidiela, is demanding R2 million to release want-away coach Jean Losciuto from his contract.
According to an insider at Leopards, Thidiela is not prepared to let the Belgium mentor join Premier Soccer League side Free State Stars without being compensated.
Losciuto still has two years remaining on the three-year deal he signed with the Venda-based outfit in September last year.
SunSport has been told Losciuto breached his contract agreement when he signed a three-year deal with Ea Lla Koto before the start of play-offs.
Losciuto helped Lidoda Duvha move from 13th position in the National First Division and then helped them to qualify for the relegation/promotion play-offs.
Said the insider: “Thidiela is angry that Losciuto betrayed him when he signed a deal with Stars prior to their crucial play-offs games.
“He wants the coach to honour the remainder of his agreement with the club, or else Stars should buy him out of his contract.”
According to another source, Stars boss, Mike Mokoena, tried to intervene as his friendship with Thidiela comes a long way, but Thidiela wouldn’t budge.
What made Thidiela angrier was the fact that Stars also snatched his assistant coach, Sly Mosala, together with midfielder, Abubaker Mumuni, whose contract expires at the end of this month.
Explained the source: “Mike phoned Thidiela in a bid to resolve the squabble. But Thidiela was angry and told him what they did was wrong. He said ‘why take my coach without letting me know first?’
“Mokoena tried to defend their action and said ‘things happen in football. Eric Tinkler joined SuperSport United and Cape Town City never fought with them’. This made Thidiela more angry.”
Thidiela told SunSport he was shocked by how Stars handled the matter.
“I heard a rumour before the play-offs that my coach had signed with Stars, and I said to Mike ‘what kind of friend are you who does this to me?’
“He’s the last person I expected to do this to me. But he denied knowing anything.
“He said he’d investigate and come back to me. I’ve been waiting for his call since.
“I’m shocked because he’s my best friend.”
Thidiela has now approached Losciuto’s lawyer, hoping to resolve the matter as his coach lied to him.
“I asked the coach about the rumour, but he bluntly denied signing with them.
“I spoke to his lawyer, who was co-operative, and told him Jean couldn’t go without following proper channels.”
Losciuto was not prepared to comment when the SunTeam phoned, and Mokoena didn’t answer his phone at the time of going to print.
