Moorosi Tsiane
FORMER Matlama coach Thabile Secker, wanted his technical director fired for him to remain in his job at the club, secretary general Liteboho Tlebere has said.
The claims come hard on the heels of Secker’s departure for the reigning league champions after guiding them to their record 10th title in the just ended season.
Tlebere’s comments also came after Secker recently said he was uncomfortable working with the side’s technical director Mosito ‘Carragher’ Matela.
Secker made the surprise move of ditching the club after a successful debut campaign to re-unite with Lioli on a two-year deal.
Secker joined Matlama at the beginning of the 2018/19 season and became an instant hero helping the side end its eight-season drought for the league title.
There have been reports however, to the effect that Secker was unhappy at Matlama towards the end of last season. The coach later said there were some people at the club who were interfering with his work now that they were close to glory.
The reigning Econet Premier League Coach of the Year couldn’t hide his despondency in a post-match interview following their last league match of the 2018/19 season against Linare at Setsoto Stadium casting doubt about his future with the club.
On joining the club last year, Secker signed a season long contract with Matlama which ended on 30 June and had been locked in negotiations with the club’s management until Monday when they both decide to part ways.
Secker said the negotiations failed to yield the desired results and they decided to go separate ways.
Among other things, Secker said he wanted the permission to select the people he wanted to work with in the technical team as he was uncomfortable working with the technical director Matela.
“The negotiations didn’t succeed as we failed to agree on certain issues and we decided to go our separate way,” Secker said.
“I had my own terms that I wanted included in the contract among them the freedom to select who I want to work with in the technical team. I didn’t feel comfortable working with Carragher (Matela), so I wanted the committee to help me on that but that failed. I then received a letter on Wednesday where the club wished me well on my future assignments as our negotiations were fruitless.”
Secker also said Matlama refused to increase his salary and also wanted to reduce his signing on fees.
“We didn’t agree on many things. I have also asked for a pay hike and they didn’t agree. They also wanted to give me less than they gave me last season on the signing on fee,” Secker said.
He confirmed that he is now headed back to Lioli where he previously was the assistant coach to Mosholi Mokhothu three seasons ago before leaving to coach the now defunct Sky Battalion.
“We have been in talks with Lioli and actually, they had wanted me last season to assist Ntate (Lehlohonolo) Thotanyana. Now that he is the vice president, I will be the club’s new coach,” Secker said.
Meanwhile, Matlama secretary general Liteboho Tlebere on Friday also conceded that Secker had registered reservations over working with Matela. However, the team said they could not terminate Matela’s contract on Secker’s account.
“When Secker’s contract was about to lapse we approached around May this year him to negotiate a new deal and he asked us to wait as he was focusing on the last league matches.
“We listened to him and waited for him until early last month. We made him an offer and he came back with more demands which we accepted except one term which had legal implications. The management tried to show him the danger of his demands.
“Our contracts also have labour implications and we could not terminate the contract of another staff member on the instigation of another staff member.
“That is what Secker wanted. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that. However, while awaiting for his response, we learnt that he has already signed for Lioli,” Tlebere said.