Lionel Mapoe may soon be on his way to the Blue Bulls due to a salary dispute with the Free State Rugby Union (FSRU).
The FSRU’s legal representatives will meet with Mapoe’s on Thursday. The meeting may determine whether Mapoe’s contract is valid or whether he can be contracted by the Bulls for a salary of R1.4 million straight away.
Sport24’s sources indicate that Mapoe is earning around R29 500 per month in the Super 14, which is the minimum salary for a South African player in the Super 14. His contract with Free State is worth about R200 000 a year.
Mapoe was contracted as an unknown emerging talent by the Cheetahs in 2008 for R80 000 a year for three years, with annual increases built into the contract.
He still played for the Free State under-21 side in 2009 and only made his mark for the senior team later in the season, after which the Cheetahs decided to increase his salary.
The Cheetahs are now believed to be willing to increase his salary to R750 000 a year within 24 months if he’s prepared to extend his contract until 2012.
Mapoe’s representatives believe that his current salary is not market related.
FSRU president Harold Verster confirmed to Sport24 that he had received a lawyer’s letter from the agents in which the validity of Mapoe’s contract is disputed.
“There is an issue around Mapoe’s contract. His agent, Red Star Talent and more specifically Mike de Haast, is looking at the issue with lawyers. The matter is sub judice because there are ongoing negotiations between the lawyers and we have a meeting on Thursday,” said Verster.
“You can probably always go looking for a problem in a contract. We are quite certain our affairs are in order.
“It’s a pity that this kind of thing always pops up before we play a big South African team. It’s disruptive for the team and players. It’s a pity that our own people in Bloemfontein disrupt our team at such a crucial time.”
Verster believes Mapoe is a star and the Cheetahs would like to keep him in the long term.
“We have looked after him very well to date. He did not have a medical aid last year when he suffered a knee injury. His agents did not arrange a medical aid for him. Free State Rugby paid R25 000 for his knee operation,” said Verster.
“He has also had free accommodation for the past two years at the Cheetah house.”
De Haast says that the Bulls have not made Mapoe an offer.
“Lionel is committed to the Cheetahs and is looking forward to Saturday’s match against the Stormers,” he said.
Wikus
Too Little, Too Late!
Crusaders (B Team) by 38-40 on Saturday!
Superbul @ 84
Well come to think about it, the Lions haven’t set many records of late, so maybe a record number of Wooden Spoons could be something to talk about.
Manie could have them all bronzed and put them on display.
If the Lions get any more 70 plus hidings, they could even set a record for the most points conceded in a S14 campaign.
91@ Scrumdown – Saders will win by less…. they will score their bonus point and take the foot off the pedal… well this is how it looks from the chosen squad…. rest up as much as possible…
When your opposition starts disrespecting you enough to let the 2nd stringers run at you, you know you have trouble.
GBS @ 93
Highly probable.
I can hear the Lions spin doctors already: “Lions hold ‘Saders to only a 20 point winning margin. The season has turned around, and with Wikus returning we could still make the play-off’s”
I’ve got to agree with GBS about the Bulls commitment to transformation. It has never been in doubt as far as I’m concerned.
And the fact that the Bulls bought Hottie Louw a few years ago is proof of that….
93 – GBS, I hope it damn well backfires against the Saders. I really do hope the Lions can up their game. Remember they kept Brumbies out of the bonus point. I don’t think Lions will win, but they could just keep Saders without that Bonus point, which at this stage they need for sure as they still to tour SA and have to play Bulls and Stormers on their home turf.
Go Lions just do it. Let us stop rubbishing our teams and try and get behind them hey!!
Amen Puma!!
Does the Lions keeping the Brumbies from getting a bonus point make
a) the Lions a good team
b) the Brumbies a bad team…?
Interesting picks for the weekend… 😆
97 – Fender, Thanks.
98 – Blouste, Lions did keep Brumbies from getting that bonus point. Which may just be good for Bulls and Stormers who still have to travel. Brumbies have toured SA already. Brumbies though still have to face Blues and Saders on their home turf. They could win all the rest of their games and may beat the Blues. So Lions done a good job there from keeping Brumbies without the bonus.
100 Puma
I know, but to be fair the conditios were’nt exactly perfect for picking up bonus points…
For me, the Brumbies have’nt lived up to their pre-season hype.
Eishhh….conditions
Fender @ 95.
I hate the word “transformation”.
I’m with a development club and that’s the word we use.
We (our club) don’t want or expect ANYONE IN ANY POSITION (Player, coach, manager, administrator) to be appointed unless they are CAPABLE OF DOING THE JOB irrespective of skin colour.
Unfortunately in our case, the development program of our particular Union has holes in it so large you could turn an oil tanker around in them.
A rather big problem that I have is that the player registration forms that every club player has to complete each year still asks a player to state his race.
Our Union say it is a SARU requirement and is for statistical purposes, but the poor kid living in a shack, trying hard to improve his life doesn’t see that. All he sees is the reminder that he’s still apportioned to a particular race.
Anyway, let me get off my soapbox.
@ 103
Sorry, meant to say that we use the word DEVELOPMENT not transformation.
Hi Scrumdown,
If you read my posting #95 you’ll see that I’ve got my tongue firmly in my cheek. 😉
Grrrrrrrrr
Yawn….
Ag c’mon Blouste – get out of that blue skin and live a little! 😉
fender
What do you suggest? 😆
GBS @ 106
Why the anger?
You know I have strong feelings about Rugby development and healthy debate (provided it’s above the belt) can only be good for the development of the game.
When one looks at the dwindling numbers of players at schoolboy level (according to SARU, not me), it tells me that development of the game is more important now then ever before.
The issue will never go away. Let’s not get like the Doornfontein contingent and bury our heads hoping that things will miraculously get better.
110@ ScrumDown – I was saying Grrrr to Fender… he’s a sponsparra… hahaha
The Sharks would not buy him as the have this strange obsession with a guy who is slow and average at best in Ndungane:)
Manne, net so van die os op die jas. Nerens staan dit vir hoelank nie. Die cheetahs sou hom R750k oor 2 jaar gee, dus sal hy seker R700k per jaar by die bulle verdien. 1.4/2=750k
Nie eers spies kry 1.4 per jaar nie. Dalk saam met sy bok kontrak maar nie by die bulle alleen as basies nie. Wenbonusse moet baie hoog wees volgens my want dit verseker dat die tille by die hek rol.
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