allAfrica.com: Botswana: Nico, Ecco Fight Over Player (Page 1 of 1)

Premier League sides, Nico United and ECCO City Greens are locked in what could be a bitter fight over midfielder, Master Masiku.

The dread-locked Zimbabwean international finds himself at the centre of controversy as ECCO try to lure him away from Majombolo.

The dispute has been referred to the Premier League Committee (PLC) for arbitration. However, Nico United do not see why the PLC should handle the issue as the player has a contract with them until November 2009. In July, ECCO deputy secretary general, Bongani Thomola wrote to Nico requesting permission to talk to the player over a possible move. Nico agreed to the request and ECCO struck a deal with the player after he was reportedly offered a signing on fee of P15,000.

However, it is said things took a different turn when Majombolo successfully sought to keep the player by dangling a better offer.

Hence on 24 July 2008, Masiku wrote a letter to ECCO informing them that he was staying put at Nico. "I am writing this letter to your good esteemed office (sic) letting you know that I will no longer be able to join you because I still have a contractual obligation with Nico United," Masiku wrote.

The letter was addressed to the club's secretary and copied to the PLC. ECCO refused to let go and apparently engaged in more negotiations with the player with an improved signing on fee of P30,000. It is not clear whether the player agreed to the offer. But on 14 August, ECCO vice-chairperson M.S. Jackson wrote to Nico United requesting the player's registration book."This is a follow up request to our previous request to talk to your player, Mr Master Masiku. We have now done so and have reached an agreement with the above-mentioned player. May we now kindly enter into the necessary procedures to enable a smooth transfer of the player from Nico United Football Club to ECCO City Greens Sporting Club," Jackson wrote.

Two days later, ECCO wrote to the PLC requesting for intervention to solve the dispute between the two clubs over the player. In the letter, ECCO secretary general, Itumeleng Mafa said the club had agreed personal terms with Masiku and had requested his registration book from Nico but was "getting little cooperation"."We had earlier agreed terms with the player and Nico United managed to convince him to change his mind. We engaged in some fresh negotiations and he has decided to join us," Itumeleng wrote. He then requested the PLC to assist in facilitating negotiations between the two clubs. But the Nico management is not amused. It (ECCO) used underhand tactics and re-negotiated with the player without their permission. Nico spokesman, Eitlhomilwe Raditshego said they were taken aback by ECCO's actions. He said the club considered that the talks between Masiku and ECCO broke down when the player wrote a letter turning them down."The player declined and this means negotiations were unsuccessful. We don't expect further discussions because the player declined," Raditshego said. ECCO allegedly sent the player messages claiming that Nico management will 'cheat' him into staying against his wish. One such text message reads: "Master, please we need your services. We are ready to buy (out) your contract. Those guys will try to cheat you and make you write a letter reversing your resignation.

"Please don't tell them you are going. Come and enjoy your life with us please, please Master Masiku." Other ECCO officials were reportedly pestering the player to leave Nico arguing that if he stayed he "would be blundering". In their letter to the PLC, Nico said there is nothing for the PLC to mediate because ECCO should follow laid down procedures in recruiting a player. ECCO spokesman, Thuso Mudongo could not comment on the matter saying he was waiting for the management's green light.

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