The Storm is over …!” Teko Modise tweeted on Wednesday and by Thursday it was clear that the direction in which he had blown was Mamelodi Sundowns. Modise met with Brazilians management in the afternoon to iron out his personal terms and he will be unveiled at a press conference this morning at Chloorkop.
Earlier on Thursday, meanwhile, Modise sat in a natty red bow-tie, while Buccaneers chairman Irvin Khoza announced his imminent departure. A hastily arranged press conference was expected to merely give the results of an investigation into Modise’s actions, with the midfielder suspended this month by Pirates, after absconding from camp ahead of an Absa Premiership game with Santos.
Modise claimed he had answered an urgent call from his wife, after their house had been broken into.
Pirates, it seemed, wanted proof. Khoza, however, dropped a bombshell in declaring that Pirates had decided to leave the disciplinary charges alone, because Modise was on his way out of the club. “We are gathered here because of a notice sent out to the media indicating that the club have finished the Teko Modise investigation,” said Khoza, brandishing a file with Modise’s name on it.
“We had concerns in terms of what happened at the training camp (Modise left without permission), and subsequently what happened at gym the day after the game. Everyone was supposed to attend, and Teko did not … We had to investigate the reasons for him to abscond. “(Today) we took Teko inside to indicate to him how we intended to proceed with this matter. We had to discuss a call with Teko and his manager (Jazzman Mahlakgane) – that call was an offer to secure the services of Teko. We asked Mr Mahlakgane and Teko, as to whether we should proceed with the DC, or if they wanted to accept the proposed offer. We wanted to keep the player.
“The player decided to settle for the offer proposed … Orlando Pirates have acceded to the request from the player and accepted the offer from Sundowns. Teko has now left for Sundowns, any disciplinary action would have no purpose.” Khoza admitted that Orlando Pirates had tried to do a swap deal with Sundowns involving Mozambican winger Elias Pelembe. The Brazilians, however, were unwilling to give Pelembe to Pirates, so the Buccaneers accepted a cash offer.
Modise’s departure comes after a frustrating season at Pirates, where he has barely played – clearly not a favourite of Pirates coach Ruud Krol. The Bucs midfielder had been unafraid to vent his anger on twitter, but he cut a more modest figure in Houghton yesterday.
“First and foremost I want to thank the chairman for the opportunity he gave me,” said Modise.
“He told me my life would not be the same again when I signed. At the time I didn’t understand, but after playing a couple of games I realised the impact of the statement he had made.
“I tried my best within the team, I got so many opportunities, I played over 50 times for South Africa, I captained South Africa, I captained Pirates as well. I thought I had done everything I could in four years with the team. There are so many young players coming through, like Mark Mayambela, like Daine Klate, I think they should get the opportunity to shine.
“I want to thank the chairman for the opportunity to further my game and I wish them the best of luck as they are doing well in the league.” Khoza added that in the absence of Modise, Pirates’ No10 jersey was again to be retired. “When Teko came to the club we made a promise, we identified him as a player to wear the No10 jersey. We were hoping one day that somebody would better the performance of Jomo Sono,” said Khoza.
“Now that Teko is leaving it will depend on who comes through at Pirates to force us to recall the No10 jersey.
“For now it remains retired in honour of the outstanding performance from Jomo Sono during his career at Pirates,” said the Pirates chairman. - The Star
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